Adding a social media angle makes sense. If you keep posting stuff that ties into what your forum’s about, people start to notice. Even running a few ads on platforms where your audience hangs out can work if you target them right.
By year three, if you’ve got good content and people are sticking around, you can start thinking about ways to monetize. Something like a premium membership or an eBook that really hits on what your members care about could do the trick. People are way more likely to spend money if they trust what you’ve built. Honestly, it’s kind of like setting up a market entry plan—just make a solid plan and stick to it.