Free Targeted Website Traffic

Amar from Earth -

As a onetime paid poster i am flabbergasted at the narrow topic parameters some forum builders leave for their paid posters.

Why can't they see that topics that need to be broadened cut off poster creativity when they are too narrow?

Leaving no chat or miscelaneous or feedback is an obvious no no.

e.g. this forum has may well-developed categories. But I have seen some forums with no more than 4 category boxes! That's too narrow!

Comment #1 George from glrsales -

Since this is a brand new forum, we would welcome comments on the topics and/or suggestions for additional topics.

It can be difficult to decide whether to make just a few to get things going and then expand, or start with a browder focus.

The narrow focus makes things look "fuller". The border focus can make things look "empty" as many of the topics have no discussion at the begining.

Of course some people have a very narrow view of how things should be. We like to see where things flow naturally and then go with the flow.

Comment #2 Brenda from The Beach Baby! -

I think the best thing to do is have a topic, but list many different options of areas to post in. That helps to give the posters more ideas on what to post on. If a poster doesn't have some guidelines or more topics to post on, the posts end up being very general and boring.

Comment #3 kcmo from KC MO -

I think the forums should have a topic related "general" forum. There are times when I've had an on-topic question or comment, but it just didn't quite fit into any of the categories that were listed. I hate it when that happens. And a webmaster will never be able to think of everything. Someone is going to come along that can point out something you've missed. I also like having an off-topic forum, but I know most site owners would rather not do that.

Comment #4 Kaabi from Maryland -

My forum only has ONE section, a general section. That's because that's all I need. I could break it up, but I don't wanna.

Comment #5 Paul Roupinian from Redondo beach -

I have used forum design both ways. It seems that there is always some growth room. But also you can overexpand the forum categories and go nuts and then it looks bare forever.

I had a forum with a similar focus to mine make me take my banner off my siggy because they said the forum I had on my own site was too close to theirs.

When I said it was a hobby forum they actually replied "well you have it set up to take a lot of people".

Can you beleive that?

Comment #6 Sweet_River from Downtown Tijuana, South -

Personally, I enjoy a forum with many different categories (such as this one) to choose from. It get's my imagination going.

What I suggest forum owners to do is to open a General Chat thread and then see what gets put in there. If it looks like it could be a good General Topic then definitely make a new Forum Topic and move it over so that you then can get that one expanded.

The forum owners that don't do this really do miss out on a lot of information that could be put in their forums and get things rolling along with many more posts.

I'm in a forum at the moment that only has 4 topics and man is it hard to know wher to put things.

Comment #7 kcmo from KC MO -

I think forums are easier to navigate if it's broken up into different topics. It's just more organized and easier to find the information you're looking for. It's also easier to figure out where your post goes.

Comment #8 webferret from Irvine -

One sure way to kill traffic is have a very limited number of threads and categories. And when people overdo the rules it's like cracking a whip to get browsers away from your site.

Comment #9 kcmo from KC MO -

Forums really have to have rules in place, otherwise when you have to say something to a member they'll say "I didn't see that in the rules". But I think you should make them as short as possible, and attempt to make them sound friendly as opposed to demanding.

Comment #10 angie1000 from Georgia -

I do believe the forum should be able to grow once more members start to join. It definitely needs to have rules or mods to make sure everyone is following them.

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