(Setting up a) Forum website

[butterfly12]

Hi

I think the East Dulwich Forum is fantastic and was hoping to set something up similar for the peak district (Derbyshire). I wondered if any of the administrators would be able to offer any advice to me on how to set this sort of forum/website up?

Thank you very much

[Mark]

Hi

Remember the key thing is to provide something that is useful and fun to the local area.

- Start small, get some hosting and a domain name with someone like Heart Internet and install forum software.

- Set up the sections of the site, this one had five to start with but that changed with the times.

- Be strict but fair, you've set it up, so you set the rules (borrow the ones from here if you want).

- Be prepared for the Admin team to make mistakes, apologise and make u-turns.

- Most people are fantastic and you'll get a great community (which will then be referred to as "the clique" by others).

- Some people will push you to the edge but move on, the community will help you deal with them if you've been fair.

- Find some awesome moderators, we have great ones on here and they help the place stay great.

- Have a few low budget promotions, we printed 1,500 postcards and had them delivered locally.

- You will get people from outside the areas trying it on e.g."why can't I advertise my Brixton builders", be strict but fair.

- User's confidentiality is very important, only give details if requested to by the authorities.

- Have fun, it's hard work but worth it.

- Don't expect local businesses to ever thank you for what you've done.

- It's not a news site, they're full of bad news. It's the equivalent of chatting to your neighbour over the fence.

- There will be times when it will become a bad tempered whinge-fest, and people don't like returning to places that are always bad tempered.

- Listen to suggestions about the forum but don't act on all of them. If it feels right then do it, if you?re not sure, think about it for a while or ask a few forumites you trust.

I'm sure I'll add some more thoughts as I think of them but remember it has to be useful and fun.

Good luck

Mark

Added:

For better usability amend titles so people know what the discussion thread is about before they click its link.

[butterfly12]

Mark , Thank you very much for your thoughts and information. Its really useful to me.

I will let you know how it goes!!