The Joys and Woes of Running a Forum

When it comes to running a forum, there are so many uniquely wonderful yet exasperating aspects to consider. As I blindly dived into the world of forum hood, I didn’t deliberate the actual costs and time that I would have to invest to ensure success. My eyes turned to dollar signs in hopes that the masses would overwhelm my web space and I would live happily ever after as I sat at my laptop and checked in from time to time on my delightful and contented members. For every joy that I had the pleasure to realize as a forum owner, there were twice as many annoyances.

In the beginning, I discovered the drudgery involved in the starting process. No one should welcome the misconception that once you get your forum up and running it’s a breeze. Well, I surely discovered that it’s quite the contrary very early on. I first realized that traffic wouldn’t just magically appear because you’re open for business. It took months and months of advertising and postings on my own part for me to see a substantial membership. Then once the membership grew, I had to figure out ways to please and maintain the members that I had obtained. (You will be surprised just how many people expect forums to be exactly how they imagine and desire it to be.) It’s not as bad as it sounds as I had an interest in the topic of my forum. So I was able to find some joy in my labor. However, it took many posts and dedication, unforeseen, to draw members and keep them.

Once my membership grew to decent numbers and traffic was rolling in steadily, to my amazement, I found that so many people are attracted to forums to promote their own agendas. I am not even talking about the obvious spammers, which, by the way, were plentiful. I am referring to the actual active members who join and gain a reputable status with members only to later promote their own forum or business. It was astounding just how many people just blatantly posted self-owned competing forums and or business as if it were perfectly acceptable. I was insulted with this attempt many times. And it also became my agenda to find ways to block them or deter them from even joining my forum. Members find this very insulting when spammers badger them as well, so that added to my duties, “keep the spammers away!”

I was getting loads of emails and private messages on suggestions, people wanting to tell me how to do it right, as well as people just wanting me to educate them on forum running. Everyone knows how to do it better than you, and if they had the opportunity to run this forum, this is the proper way to do it. I found that you can’t please all of the people all of the time. And you can’t retain all of your members; some will just find other places to be content. I adopted the “You win some, you lose some” philosophy.

In my experience, especially when dealing with a mostly female membership, feuds are inevitable. I had vowed to be a drama free forum for women to come and have a satisfying web experience with other women with the same concerns and agendas; but I found this task to be my biggest challenge. I felt compelled to satisfy my members and, although, it has taken lots of effort on my part, I have been able to realize this goal; as I have been commended by the forum members for this effort.

Even with all of that being said, running a forum has its gratifications. The rewards come with having content and grateful forum members that actually look forward to logging into your creation each day. It brings me great joy to have provided this opportunity for people to exchange ideas freely and comfortably. When I see women (mostly, in my case) find each other in friendship and knowledge exchange it gives me a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

The profit of my forum has to be something that I am patient for. I’ve found that with patience comes great rewards, and that definitely can be applied here. My forum has not yet grown to a status where I can boast off of the profits. It takes time. But in time, a forum can reap great monetary profits.

If you are looking to run a forum or you have a brand new forum, remember; dedicate your time and efforts into it. The more of your thoughts and labors you invest, the greater your reward will be. Also, be willing to invest your money as well. Running a good forum is costly in the beginning especially. Be innovative and adventurous; be willing to try new things that other forums have not. Ask yourself, What would make someone choose my forum over the competition?

Don’t go into it with unrealistic goals, the let down will be too disappointing. But if you prepare yourself for the inevitable, you will be equipped with what it takes to get it up and running. And soon you will enjoy a great forum with many contented members. Patience is a virtue.