Comments on: Why I rarely build forums http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/ Finding the domain names of the future Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:44:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chef Patrick http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13315 Chef Patrick Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:44:25 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13315 Well said Barry. Well said Barry.

]]> By: Barry http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13313 Barry Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:13:25 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13313 Hi Frankie, You know I have never used forums like that but I have heard of it being used successfully. Thats an interesting suggestion. Patrick, You know, I almost think it is a rite of passage! It is like buying terrible domain names when starting out. No one likes to admit it but it happens to almost everyone. A Russian lady who works for me gave out to me the other day for calling something a failure. She insisted there are no failures, only experiences. So I can safely say I have had many experiences :) Hi Frankie,
You know I have never used forums like that but I have heard of it being used successfully. Thats an interesting suggestion.

Patrick,
You know, I almost think it is a rite of passage! It is like buying terrible domain names when starting out. No one likes to admit it but it happens to almost everyone.
A Russian lady who works for me gave out to me the other day for calling something a failure. She insisted there are no failures, only experiences. So I can safely say I have had many experiences :)

]]> By: Chef Patrick http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13312 Chef Patrick Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:12:57 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13312 I have made this mistake. I enjoy sports and chatting on forums. So duh, I spent a few hundred dollars creating a custom theme for a sports forum. It didn't take off and I didn't have the time to really dedicate to growing. So instead I sold the forum for $50 after spending about $300. I lost money but gained with knowledge :) I have made this mistake. I enjoy sports and chatting on forums. So duh, I spent a few hundred dollars creating a custom theme for a sports forum. It didn’t take off and I didn’t have the time to really dedicate to growing.

So instead I sold the forum for $50 after spending about $300. I lost money but gained with knowledge :)

]]> By: SkyDomains http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13311 SkyDomains Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:33:33 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13311 Forums are tough. However I sometimes use the forum software for other applications. I have also used a forum to luanch a full fledged site. The forum acted as the forerunner. Forums are tough.
However I sometimes use the forum software for other applications.
I have also used a forum to luanch a full fledged site. The forum acted as the forerunner.

]]> By: Barry http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13309 Barry Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:55:03 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13309 There are areas that cry out for forums like hobbies or other subjects that people get very passionate about. If the person is passionate about the subject also, they may be prepared to dedicate the time to run the forum. This post is really that people should look before they leap. Think about their business model, their time and their preferred lifestyle. Johan, Trying to create a forum on a website is probably the most common mistake those new to website development make. After a while you will recognize when it is right to do so or you may choose to do it rarely, like me. Having good traffic to the website can help but is no guarantee that a forum will work. Those that visit websites do not necessarily visit forums. There are areas that cry out for forums like hobbies or other subjects that people get very passionate about. If the person is passionate about the subject also, they may be prepared to dedicate the time to run the forum.
This post is really that people should look before they leap. Think about their business model, their time and their preferred lifestyle.

Johan,
Trying to create a forum on a website is probably the most common mistake those new to website development make. After a while you will recognize when it is right to do so or you may choose to do it rarely, like me. Having good traffic to the website can help but is no guarantee that a forum will work. Those that visit websites do not necessarily visit forums.

]]> By: Johan http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13306 Johan Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:27:52 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13306 Im fairly new but I've tried to get a few forums started without any success. Lot's of time invested, resulting in low activity forums. Basically the only activity is spammers and the like. If you build a successfull blog/homepage which gets popular maybe you could expand to a forum. No point investing the time before that. Still, if you are dedicated and very interested in the topic, a forum could probably be very rewarding. But, as you mention, it takes time, time and then some more time. Personally, I'm into building niche mini-sites using Wordpress in order to set a foundation of revenue my first 1-2 years from now. When/if they start to give me a profit, I might focus on forums and webservices. Time is the only thing I lack. :) Im fairly new but I’ve tried to get a few forums started without any success. Lot’s of time invested, resulting in low activity forums. Basically the only activity is spammers and the like.

If you build a successfull blog/homepage which gets popular maybe you could expand to a forum. No point investing the time before that. Still, if you are dedicated and very interested in the topic, a forum could probably be very rewarding. But, as you mention, it takes time, time and then some more time. Personally, I’m into building niche mini-sites using WordPress in order to set a foundation of revenue my first 1-2 years from now. When/if they start to give me a profit, I might focus on forums and webservices. Time is the only thing I lack. :)

]]> By: wannadevelop.com http://www.predictivedomaining.com/2009/02/24/rarely-build-forums/comment-page-1/#comment-13298 wannadevelop.com Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:00:40 +0000 http://www.predictivedomaining.com/?p=1041#comment-13298 I'm with you on that :) Forums are a pain... Unless you are really passionate and dedicated to a subject, you shouldn't even bother. They have a purpose... and their place. But keep in mind that you aren't going to get rich by running them. The few people that do brag about their success with forums and how much money they are making... Well, they are the exception. For every successful forum there is probably 1,000+ ones that failed miserably. So yea... Beware! I’m with you on that :)

Forums are a pain… Unless you are really passionate and dedicated to a subject, you shouldn’t even bother.

They have a purpose… and their place. But keep in mind that you aren’t going to get rich by running them.

The few people that do brag about their success with forums and how much money they are making… Well, they are the exception. For every successful forum there is probably 1,000+ ones that failed miserably.

So yea… Beware!

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