Cedric

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

It's vital to keep your top contributors happy and active. They carry your community without doing much effort. So in a sense, they're the reason your community thrives and is alive by posting discussions that spark more interest by others. They set the tone for the community so to say. But how do you show appreciation for their efforts? Do you have a system in place to reward or recognize them, or do you prefer to let their contributions speak for themselves? An elite/VIP group used to be a very popular thing, but I've noticed that trend is slowly dying out. There's more of course. Badges / Custom titles Exclusive perks Public shoutouts Giftcards So, let us know what you do to keep your top contributors happy. :D

Do you read all the posts made in your forums? I try my best to do so. For the first 4 months, I didn’t miss a single post. However, as the forums grow more active, keeping up with every post becomes challenging. That said, I’d estimate I’ve read about 90% of the posts on Administrata—just not all of them. When I’m away and return to find I’ve missed a batch of posts, I still make an effort to catch up. If it’s been more than 24 hours, I’ll often go through each section individually to read what I missed. I believe it’s important to read as many posts as possible because there might be discussions that directly concern your forum or even yourself. Plus, there’s always the chance of rule-breaking posts that need to be addressed. So, do you read all of your forum’s posts? How important is it to do so? Is it worth spending two hours catching up on missed posts, or should that time be invested in developing the forum instead?

Welcome aboard! :)

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article [plain]5 Skills You Need to Have to Be a Community Manager[/plain]. Please add to the discussion here.

Most people around here know each other, or one can vouch for the other. That way we don’t need a middle man, but I’m always around to do so should you require it. You can ask for a validation token when someone is selling their license, or a screenshot. Which you can then use to verify the legitimacy of said license. Usually the buyer sends money. And then the seller asks XenForo to transfer the license. Which is usually a very quick process. So you’ll need a client account on XF in advance if you don’t have one yet - it’s free.

An introduction would’ve been a better start, yes. 🤣

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You'll need to pick one.

No prizes :)

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This thread is for the general discussion of the Article [plain]You should embrace off topic posts on your online community[/plain]. Please add to the discussion here.

I'm glad you like it! :) Toxicity is something dangerous indeed. If it's not being handled by staff accordingly then the risk is high not only to scare away new members, but also existing members. Not everyone has thicker skin and I'd say it's easier to piss off more sensitive people than you're able to find people who don't care.

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article [plain]The Top 5 Things Visitors Look for Before Joining your Forum[/plain]. Please add to the discussion here.

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No prizes! ;)

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I first started using phpBB what feels like a millennium ago! :D Back then, it took me a lot of time to get the hang of it since I was a complete newbie in web design and everything else. After phpBB, I moved to InvisionFree, which was much easier to use. Then came ZetaBoards - a platform I initially hated but quickly grew to love. Later, I transitioned to self-hosting MyBB and IPB, and shortly after, I discovered XenForo, which I’ve been using since 2015. XenForo, however, was a whole different beast at first. The learning curve was steeper compared to any other forum software I’d used before. But over the years, I’ve learned so much, and now I can confidently say it’s the best forum software for me in terms of customization and flexibility. To answer the thread’s question, it usually takes me a few days to get comfortable with a new forum script, including some basic styling. How about you? How long does it take you to learn a new forum software?

Yes, that could be, I'm much around . 🙈

Being an admin isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes you get to deal with difficult members, repeated rule-breaking, or sometimes it's just the stress of managing a growing forum. There'plenty times when frustration can boil over. But as an admin, how you handle those moments can make a big difference in maintaining a positive and professional vibe. So, did you ever lose your temper as an admin? Maybe you snapped in a post, sent a message you regretted, or just wanted to throw your hands up and walk away. How did you handle it? Did you apologize, take a step back, or find a better way to deal with the stress? We've all been there at one point in our lives, so speak up - no judgement. :D

Not everyone has a big budget or are even willing to spend money on their community. While others see it as a legitimate hobby and can justify investing hundreds to thousands on their community. So starting a community from nothing can feel overwhelming when you don’t have a big budget or a large team to help. But many successful communities have grown organically with minimal resources - just creativity, consistency, and smart strategies. How have you done it? Did you start with free tools like Discord or Facebook Groups? How did you find your first members without a big marketing budget? Any creative hacks to grow or keep people engaged when you’re flying solo? Share your wins, fails, and lessons learned. :D

Hi Michael! Welcome to Administrata. Pleased to meet you! :)