Cedric

Great! Good luck with the license. Keep us up to date. Additionally, you can leave feedback for each other’s transaction by clicking the name.

Will do today. 😀

Welcome aboard Thomas. :)

This is exactly why I wrote this article: [EMBED content=ams_article-34]https://administrata.net/articles/you-should-embrace-off-topic-posts-on-your-online-community.34/[/EMBED] You cannot expect to have a community without an off topic section. This is where the bonding is done. Niche discussions are for debates, long-form discussion and thoughtful responses. Off topic is just for having a laugh and fun, it's easier to bond with.

I find having announcements at the top such a classic but outdated setup. Personally, I'd rather see the niche discussions at the top.

I like to do soft launches. Once I've setup the forum, I invite some friends to help out with content. While that's being done, I typically order some content from people. So I try to get around 500-1000 posts before officially opening the forum. But often, I try to create a hype about it before actually launching to the public.

Honestly, I'd just bug them until it's done. That timeframe is ridiculous.

Posting competitions are a classic way to boost activity and engagement, but they’re not the only option out there. From the more creative challenges such as design contests to community-wide celebrations, there are so many ways to keep your forum lively and fun. So, what kind of events do you enjoy hosting or participating in? Do you love trivia nights, where members can show off their niche knowledge? Or maybe photo contests, where everyone shares their best snapshots? How about collaborative projects, like creating a community story or resource? Have you tried something unusual that turned out to be a huge hit?

50 Posts Package 25 Threads Package 30 Threads + 120 Posts Combo 250 Credits Boost Community Spotlight Feature Still left to win ;)

Still no prizes :(

Welcome back Bryn. It’s a pleasure to see you return.

That is correct.

[ATTACH type=full" size="284x189]1285[/ATTACH] It is with great pleasure that I announce we’ve hit our 15,000th post today! I’m not usually one to highlight milestones, but I wanted to celebrate this one for two reasons. First, the amazing growth we’ve been experiencing lately - it’s been a joy to be part of this community and help make it as enjoyable as possible. I hope your time here has been nothing short of fantastic! 😃 Second, I want to take a moment to thank [uSERGROUP=2]@everyone[/uSERGROUP]. I sincerely appreciate all of you, especially those who frequently visit and engage with the community. Your contributions make this place what it is - so thank you! We’ve got a new Administrata Essentials edition coming soon, along with something exciting and refreshing. Stay tuned! 😃

Every forum has its own vibe, its own quirks, and its own special secret that makes it stand out. For some, it’s the tight-knit relationships between members. For others, it’s the way they handle discussions or the unique features they offer. But what about your community? What’s the one thing that sets it apart from the rest? Can you answer that question? :D Is it the way you handle moderation? The inside jokes that only your members would understand? Maybe it’s a specific tradition, a unique layout, or even the way you celebrate milestones. Whatever it is, I’m curious - what’s the most unique thing about your forum? What makes it feel like home to your members? Let’s brag a little and share what makes our communities special! ;)

Last few days to get your votes in people! :)

Imagine this: A member suggests adding a new forum or sub-forum to your already extensive list of sections. You’ve got enough discussions and threads that could fit into this new category, but you’re not sure if it’s worth it. The thought of adding it, only for it to sit empty and unused, makes you cringe. Sure, you can always remove it later, but you’d rather get it right the first time. So, how do you make that decision? What kind of considerations do you weigh before adding a new section? Do you have set criteria or requirements, like a minimum number of existing threads or a clear demand from your community? Or do you take a leap of faith and see how it plays out? Have you ever added one that turned out to be a huge success - or a total flop?

When setting up a forum, one of the first decisions you’ll face is deciding which sections and forums to include. This is something that could take days for me personally. I want it as perfect as possible. Some are obvious must-haves, like an Announcements section for important updates or a Suggestions & Feedback area where members can share their ideas and opinions. Others, like a Off-Topic section, help build community by giving members a space to connect beyond the main focus of the forum. But what else is essential? Should every forum have a Support section for troubleshooting? A Introductions area for new members? Or maybe a Rules & Guidelines section to keep things running smoothly? And what about niche-specific sections - how do you balance those with the basics? I’m curious - what sections do you think every forum should have? Are there any you consider non-negotiable? Or have you found that less is more when it comes to organizing your forum?

No prizes unfortunately. ;)

I do like the idea of nominating new members. That would be neat and I'd probably even give that a run here. :P

No prizes. ;)

[uSERGROUP=6]@Content Team[/uSERGROUP] - How’s progress here? :)

Imagine this: Your forum is thriving, the community is active, and everything seems to be running smoothly. You and your co-owner have a great working relationship - no disputes, no tension, just a shared vision for the forum. Then, out of nowhere, your co-owner vanishes. No warning, no explanation, and no response to your messages. Months go by, and you’re left wondering what happened. At first, you might give them the benefit of the doubt - life happens, after all. But as time passes, you’re faced with a tough decision. Do you remove their admin status to ensure the forum can continue running smoothly? Or do you leave things as they are, hoping they’ll eventually return? How do you handle the uncertainty while keeping the community’s best interests in mind? It’s a tricky situation, for sure. Have you ever been in a position like this? How did you handle it? Or if you haven’t, what do you think is the best course of action? Side note: I saw [mention=2]Al[/mention] online earlier and thought about this thread. :ROFLMAO: Just to be clear, Al is slowly returning after being absent for a while - but I knew what was going on. This thread is different, though. It’s about a co-owner who disappears completely, with no explanation or communication. How would you handle that?

For me, it starts with identifying what’s missing in existing forums. Are they too rigid in their rules? Do they lack certain features or a sense of community? Once I pinpoint those gaps, I build the forum to fill them. Maybe it’s a more welcoming atmosphere, a unique layout, or exclusive content that others don’t offer. Or something as simple as faster response times or a more active moderation team. And I'd rather do it on my own community then someone else. That may sound a bit selfish, but when I pull the plug, it's my choice, not theirs. Also, every forum has its own vibe, and I'd rather be in my own vibe. :P

Imagine this: You launch a new forum in a niche that already has a few players, but you bring something fresh to the table - a new perspective, better features, or a more engaging community. Your forum takes off, quickly becoming the go-to spot in the niche. For about 6 months, you’re riding high, enjoying the top spot in terms of activity and popularity. Then, out of nowhere, a new competitor emerges. Almost overnight, the spotlight shifts to them. Their forum is buzzing, and suddenly yours feels quieter, even though it’s far from dead. The new competitor is now the one boasting about their activity, and you’re left wondering what happened. So, what do you do in the long term? How do you react to this new competition? Do you double down on what made your forum successful in the first place, or do you pivot to stay relevant? How do you keep your forum afloat and ensure it doesn’t get overshadowed? Have you ever been in a situation like this? How did it turn out?

Personally, I find applications, plugins, add on's (whatever you wanna call them) an improvement to a community. I know some people don't care much for these extras, but I love tinkering with them. So the right tools can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve come across a few add on's that have completely transformed how I manage and grow my community. Whether it’s streamlining moderation, boosting engagement, or just making the forum look and function better, these additions have been absolute assets. A few that come to mind: Moderator Panel Link Directory Shop Credits But I’m sure there are plenty of hidden gems out there that I haven’t discovered yet. So what plugins or tools have been game-changers for your forum? Are there any you can’t imagine running your community without? :D