Cedric

Welcome aboard and thank you for joining and accepting my invitation. :) We're obviously still very new and have to prove ourselves worthy still but I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay here! :D

If you’ve been following the development of Invision Community V5, you’re probably excited about all the new features and improvements it brings. With the beta now rolling out and more details being released, let’s chat about what’s new, what’s cool, and how it’s going to make our community-building lives a little easier! [HEADING=2]New Sidebar Layout and Forum Views[/HEADING] One of the first things you’ll notice in V5 is the optional sidebar layout. Instead of just relying on the top navigation bar, you can now enable a sidebar that makes it easier to jump between sections of your community. Whether you want to link to a specific forum category, gallery, or even products, the sidebar is totally customizable to your community’s needs. And if you prefer the classic layout, don’t worry—you can keep that too. (link: Invision Community) For displaying forums, there’s a cool new Feed View mode. It allows forums to have cover photos and color highlights, giving them a fresh look. It also displays recent activity in a more modern, easy-to-read style, which is great for visitors who want a quick overview of what’s happening. Plus, this view works great on mobile [HEADING=2]Simplified Topic Pages[/HEADING] The new compact layout for topic pages is a huge win for anyone who values a clean and easy-to-read experience. All the user info like badges, reputation, and stats are still available but tucked into a mini-profile at the top of each post. This keeps the focus on the conversation itself without clutter. And if you want to keep the original post at the top of the thread, there's a new feature that lets you pin it, making sure no one misses the context of the discussion. [HEADING=2]Updated Editor: More Power to Creators[/HEADING] The new editor in V5 is all about making content creation smoother and more flexible. Everything is designed to work perfectly on both desktop and mobile, with a cleaner toolbar that makes it easy to add emojis, icons, and even embed media like videos and links. The updated code blocks with syntax highlighting are perfect for communities that share code, and the introduction of content boxes gives you more ways to make your posts stand out. [HEADING=2]AI and Performance Upgrades[/HEADING] On the tech side, V5 is introducing AI features that work behind the scenes. This means things like spam analysis, topic summaries, and identifying trending content are all going to be smarter and more efficient, making moderation and content discovery easier for everyone. There’s also a focus on speed and performance improvements. V5 reduces JavaScript and CSS to make everything load faster, plus it includes built-in dark mode for those of us who prefer a sleek, nighttime-friendly look. And if you’re on mobile a lot, this update is especially designed to make your experience smoother. [HEADING=2]The Beta is Here![/HEADING] If you’re interested in trying these features out early, beta testing is happening now! Some folks are already playing with the new tools and giving feedback. It’s a great chance to help shape the final release and see firsthand how these changes work on your site(Link: Invision Community). So, what do you think about the upcoming changes? Have you tested the beta yet? Let’s discuss what these features might mean for our communities and share our thoughts on what’s next for Invision V5!

As a community leader, we all want our content to reflect the values and goals we've set for our board. But, let's be honest, it’s not always easy to get the type of content you'd like to see consistently. Think about the off-topic discussions, low-effort posts, or conversations that don't fit the tone you're aiming for, guiding content in the right direction can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Things to think about: How do you encourage members to create content that aligns with your community’s values? What strategies do you use to foster the type of discussions you want, without stifling creativity or freedom of expression? When content starts to drift away from your community’s purpose, how do you handle it without discouraging participation? Do you think it’s possible to guide content creation while still keeping the atmosphere welcoming and open? We’ve all faced moments when we wished for more on-topic, high-quality contributions. Let’s talk about how to steer things back on course and get the content that best represents your community.

Creating a community - whether it's a forum, social group, or organization - often revolves around shared goals, interests, or values. But have you ever thought about crafting a mission statement for your community? A mission statement can define what your community stands for, its purpose, and what it seeks to achieve. Some believe it helps set a clear direction, while others might see it as unnecessary for more casual or smaller groups. Questions to consider: Does a mission statement help bring focus to your community’s goals? Can it attract like-minded people who align with your community's values? On the flip side, does a mission statement risk sounding too corporate or rigid for online spaces that thrive on organic interactions? How important is a clear sense of purpose for long-term sustainability? Let’s discuss the pros and cons! Whether you've created one for your community or are thinking about it, we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Same here, I never registered an account either. Sad to see they breached a website like Archive though. I use it so often, it'd be a shame to see it go. We don't have any alternatives, do we?

There are definitely two sides to this. A new theme, on its own, won’t magically boost your activity overnight. It’s a nice refresh, but it’s not a fix-all solution to revive a community or drastically increase engagement by itself. On the flip side, an unattractive or poorly designed theme can do more harm than good. An ugly theme can turn guests away before they even get the chance to explore the content, so the look and feel of a forum definitely play a role in first impressions. Back in the days of InvisionFree and ZetaBoards, a new theme could spark a bit of buzz in an already established community. It kept things fresh, gave existing members something to talk about, and, for a short while, might have caught the attention of guests. But, like I said earlier, the effect is temporary. A new theme isn’t a remedy to suddenly breathe life into a quiet forum or drastically change the course of guest-to-member conversions in the long term. Ultimately, while a good theme is important for first impressions and can certainly help, the content, community culture, and ongoing engagement are what truly sustain growth and keep people coming back.

He has: https://www.offtopicforum.com/ I need to join it asap and test out the software.

Doh is great. Can’t go wrong with him honestly. And support too! Bugs are usually fixed within a few days.

It’s a curse, damnit!

I’ve seen some wild things: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/TzWNFkRPjSAXvbjW/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/cCMKHo8GvTMmFL2Y/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/a1wrgNdyGyUaqYu7/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/83T6z8GHtfqvYRUi/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/VBke5sYvtADLPhG5/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/MKW3rSGrbmjbSRAA/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/FduSSiJAJvJV7CnS/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/xwzEvZMzA8axdySw/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/HwiPRqFDvV6Jqisb/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/BkRnY4UZsrLgJjYz/?mibextid=UalRPS https://www.facebook.com/share/r/GyZDGwD7eqFXwNrL/?mibextid=UalRPS This is crazy.

Morning peeps!

Good point. There is little difference, since both aren't there for their interest of the community. Both types of users aren't genuinely interested in the community's long-term growth or engagement - they're primarily there for personal gain.Their involvement sometimes feel inauthentic too.

I've seen some admins take over old member accounts to make their communities look more active, and I'm curious—do you think it's ethical? It's one thing to want to generate content and create activity, especially if an account seems abandoned, but is it really worth it? I mean, it’s pretty obvious. Do admins end up just kidding themselves by pretending there's more engagement than there really is? Or do you see it as a harmless way to boost activity and set an example for others to follow? I'm interested to hear your thoughts on whether taking over a dormant account crosses an ethical line or if it’s justifiable for the sake of keeping the community looking alive.

Lmao, the broken phrasing. Hilarious. I love it so far dude. Looks great. Gives me some invision vibes also.

Heya Kim! Welcome aboard! 🙏

Damn. My bags cost 25 Euro for 20kg. Ya’ll are expensive! 😅

This is an underrated method, but very much effective. I bought adminforums.org a while ago. At first nothing special. But this domain was first registered in 2010. There was a big admin forum during that time. Since I have redirected it to Administrata, it has proven some solid results. Average 7k views a day. Also, my 404 page is being hit several times a day: [ATTACH type=full" size="1101x230]121[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type=full" size="1082x107]117[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type=full" size="1106x114]119[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type=full" size="1101x109]120[/ATTACH] [ATTACH type=full" size="1101x69]118[/ATTACH] So that tells me, there's been approximately 4k hits from old adminforums.org content that redirects to here. There isn't much conversion rate yet, but still this is pretty amazing traffic considering Administrata is only a few weeks old. To put that in perspective: the red box is when the domain was not redirected yet: [ATTACH type=full" size="1113x284]122[/ATTACH]

Four more days until a winner is selected! :love:

Hey everyone. How is everyone doing today?

Pups? How much have ya got?

A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

One of the biggest challenges for any community is encouraging consistent, high-quality contributions from members. Meaningful content not only drives engagement but also helps build a vibrant, active community. But how do you encourage your members to create posts, threads, or discussions that add real value? We're not talking about forum games here obviously. Some thoughts: Lead by example: As a community leader, posting thoughtful and engaging content yourself sets the tone. Show what meaningful content looks like, and others will likely follow. Recognize and reward: Offering recognition, such as "Member of the Month," or awards for high-quality posts can motivate members to contribute. Trophies or badges can go a long way in rewarding effort. Create opportunities for input: Start discussions that invite member input on important topics. Ask open-ended questions and encourage diverse opinions. Give members a space where they feel their voice matters. Promote discussions over simple replies: Create threads that encourage deeper conversation rather than one-word or one-sentence replies. Focus on topics that naturally lead to back-and-forth discussions. Controversial works great here. Highlight user contributions: Publicly highlight high-quality posts or threads in announcements, newsletters, or social media. Giving attention to valuable content lets members know you appreciate their effort. What methods have you used to encourage quality content from your members? How do you inspire thoughtful participation, and what challenges have you faced along the way?

As we all know, running a community is an evolving process. What worked today, may not work tomorrow. Sometimes everything flows smoothly, but other times, you might feel like things are stalling, or worse, moving backward. So, how do you know when it's time to make some changes in the direction your community is heading? What are the signs that you should be paying attention to? Whether it’s stagnation, lack of engagement, or shifting member needs, there are usually clear indicators that it's time to rethink your strategy. Here are a few questions to consider: Decline in activity: Has your member activity dropped significantly? Are people visiting less, posting less, or not engaging like they used to? Member feedback: Are your members expressing frustration or dissatisfaction? Have you noticed complaints about content, features, or the general feel of the community? Outdated vision or goals: Is the original purpose of your community still relevant? Have the needs of your members changed since you first started? Content relevance: Are you struggling to keep content fresh or aligned with what members are interested in now? Internal disconnect: Does the leadership team feel out of sync with what the community really needs? Is there friction in decision-making or direction? If any of these sound familiar, it might be a sign that your community needs to change or refine its approach. A change in direction could breathe new life into your community and set it on a path for renewed growth. What key indicators have you noticed in your experience? How did you recognize the need for change, and what steps did you take to adjust the course? Share your thoughts and experiences below!

I've added an AMA prefix to my thread, which means I'm open for any questions you may have ! ;) Feel free to ask.

You know how it goes—you post your introduction, share a bit about yourself, and then it kind of fades away. But sometimes, there’s more you want to share, or maybe you’d love for people to ask you about your interests, your community experience, or even random fun stuff. That’s where we thought: why not let introductions double as an Ask Me Anything (AMA)? Starting now, when you introduce yourself, you have the option to open it up for questions. It’s simple: just add the AMA prefix to your intro thread if you want the community to ask you anything. It doesn’t have to be a formal Q&A; just a way for everyone to get to know you better. [ATTACH type=full" size="603x169]116[/ATTACH] This keeps it easy—no need for another subforum or cluttering things up with separate threads. Whether you’re new or have been around for a while, your intro can be a cool space to connect, chat, and answer any burning questions people might have. If you're up for it, throw that AMA prefix on your thread, but it’s totally optional. ;) Thanks, Administrata Team