Starting a forum?

[Project X]

Hello people im thinking of starting a forum so please help me out here.

1 Where do i start?
2 What software do i need (free)
3 When should i expect to start making money?
4 How do i get people to visit the forum?
5 Is there any web development involved or can i just install a software and get going?
6 How much work should i put into it?

[psichron]

1. A community. Your forum will be useless without people using it. You need an incentive for people to use your forum and the best way of doing this is by building a community of people that can contribute meaningful posts.
2. You can sign up with any web host that offers one-click installs of popular forum software. This will be the easiest by far. Look for a host that provides a "cPanel", then use any of the available forum software like phpBB.
3. A year or more, depending on your commitment. Very possibly never. Once you have a community up and running, and some meaningful posts to attract page views, you might start seeing some revenue from ads, but if this is the only reason you want to start your forum, you are likely to fail.
4. Build a community. Wait for meaningful posts that will attract page views. Spamming will give you a bad rep.
5. One-click forum install. Then theme. Install some plugins if you feel like it.
6. Entirely up to you.

[RSkeens]

1 Where do i start?
You get a web hosting account and set up the forum.

2 What software do i need (free)
Open source forum scripts. Ask your web host if you need any suggestions or need help installing it (good web hosts should assist with this).

3 When should i expect to start making money?
After a few years at least, unless you have a very good niche.

4 How do i get people to visit the forum?
Your forum signature, word of mouth, etc.

5 Is there any web development involved or can i just install a software and get going?
You can install it and get going.

6 How much work should i put into it?
Most of the work would be promoting the forum - this can be any amount from an hour to a few hours each day. You would also need to keep the installation up to date to prevent exploits on your forum.

[bwana]

1 Where do i start?
With a topic/theme and somewhere to host it.

2 What software do i need (free)
phpBB?

3 When should i expect to start making money?

4 How do i get people to visit the forum?
Good content. A bunch of friends, preferably suffering from MPD, who are willing to help wont hurt.

5 Is there any web development involved or can i just install a software and get going?

6 How much work should i put into it?
How much do you want to get out of it?

[Fern9do]

Sign up with a webhost that has cpanel and fantastico. I would recommend texo.co.za
Installing the software(PhpBB3 is the most common) will take you about 10 seconds

Then you modify the theme/Style and your ready to open for business.

Dont expect to be making money anytime soon because that will depend on how many members your forum has and how often they post/View pages.

I have a forum and I can tell you that its extremely difficult to get active members!

Good luck though

[Sackboy]

Some points.

This forum uses VB, which is not free AFAIK.

Doesn't it cost something to host a popular site. What if it's an instant hit and you get 5000 searches a day - won't you have to pay more?

[RSkeens]

Doesn't it cost something to host a popular site. What if it's an instant hit and you get 5000 searches a day - won't you have to pay more?

It would depend if those visitors fit into your bandwidth quota and how well your web host can handle traffic volumes.

[Project X]

So theres no real planning involved,just patients?

[psichron]

Patients only if you make a medical forum.

[timgaul]

Patients only if you make a medical forum.

Hope its not an English Language forum

[Project X]

Hope its not an English Language forum

actually it is
now back to topic

[realbigdreamer]

Go to www.x10hosting.com and sign up for an account. You will get to choose a free sub domain or if you have a domain name u can use it. Then you can use the fantastico auto script installer and install the forum software and your done!

The quickest way would propably be to use coolforums. . .just google 'make your own forum' and you will find it. I also recommend that you don't just start a forum to make money. Rather choose a topic about something you like etc. . . .

[Project X]

OK guys tell me what you think.
Should i launch my forum now and start marketing and add on as i go or wait till i am happy with the lay out of the forum(which could take long).

Will you guys help me as well by telling me where to change and what to add.

[Sackboy]

What's the theme going to be or is it just general chat?

[Fern9do]

If your going for something really big(i.e the next big thing type site) I would say wait till everything looks decent, if its not something like that I dont think you should wait.