Shawn Gossman

Forums are finicky when it comes to sending mail. Many hosts are setup to be very strict on that in order to prevent email spam. I've always suggested that forum owners get something like Kit or Mail Chimp and do a newsletter so that they can handle sending larger-scale audience-based newsletters. Forum email systems are crap. All of them. You typically have to use something else aside from the default email system. My take is this - if you're not getting on my forum frequently to see what's new, are you really even that into my forum?

I have a few: Admin Forum: 10/2023 to Present Bike Forum: 12/2023 to Present Hiking Forum: 7/2024 to Present Weather Forum: 10/2024 to Present General Forum: 10/2024 to Present vBulletin Admin Forum: 11/2024 to Present

I typically don't but sometimes if notified, I'll allow two accounts using the same IP address for like spouses and what not.

Forums are still important but not because they're forums that we're used to. It's because they're "owned space" meaning you have direct access to the database and contact list of your audience. The same goes for a blog and a mailing list. Social media is rented space, and you can lose it all for nothing. We saw that with TikTok. Even if it's back, there is no promise it won't go down again. Plus, they can ban you for any reason they want, and you can't do anything about that because you agreed to those terms when you joined, by joining it. Social media should be used as a tool not a main platform.

I shut down 3 of them recently and one I just launched the other day. I had a forum for outdoor writing, kayaking, and camping. I shut all three down. I used the free software on them (phpBB, MyBB, and SMF) mainly to experience using it all again. But the forums never really went anywhere so I ended them with no plans to revive. I started another XF-powered forum the other day and recently, I've decided to end a lot of online projects to focus more on the ones that are paying me. I had 63 websites going and now it's down to 14. 6 of them are forums and I'm considering closing two of them down if they don't start to pick up soon. Forums are a hobby. I'm not looking to make money but I'm also not looking to have dead communities taking up server space. I have three monetized blogs, and one is even more monetized elsewhere - it alone earned me $20,000+ in 2024. I pay into taxes now. This year I'm getting a but more serious about writing stuff off and doubling down on the business side of things. It feels a lot better to downsize to be honest. I had too many projects going. I was paying for a lot of services and premium software and not getting any ROI because I hadn't launched anything, yet. I've saved a lot of money in the past week. I just purchased a 2025 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, too. It's not cheap but a portion of it will be written off since I used it for my business. With that, I'm ending most of my spending outside of the norm to re-evaluate things. I'll likely start back up some subscriptions here and there but at the moment, I have to get a hold of my finances. Adulting is so much fun, isn't it?

I really like seeing a brand-new community get that first real member that joined on their own and visits every day to post content. I like that so much that it is usually the reason I love making a brand-new community. But creating a bunch of communities leads to hard work and being overwhelmed, LOL. So, I'm trying to change it up to just logging into a community you have established and seeing new posts and new topics by real members (not exchangers or paid posters) each time you visit. I'm in it for the community.

In the past, if you didn't use an avatar, it was weird, and I would assume you're a spammer. However, nowadays, with the need for privacy, I don't even notice it anymore. I figure; the avatar feature is there is you want it. Use it when you want to use it or don't.

Encourage off topic discussions and lighten up on moderation - two very IMPORTANT things to point out! I totally agree with you on that. No one wants to join a strict forum. I know I don't. I tend to join and new forum and go nuts by posting. If someone gets on to me for it, I won't be back. And we all go off topic, we're humans with short attention spans. Forum owners need to quit acting like we're not humans with short attention spans. LOL Great write up, friend!

The prices sound good, but I always feel like you all who do posting services fail at providing social proof. Do you have examples of your content? Is the example of posts that become popular? Do you have reviews from previous customers? I think these factors could really help you get more business in the long run.

I find it pretty easy, personally. I am a certified social media strategist. I took a certification in it, but I've also done a ton of experiments and trials with social media marketing. I know social. I understand the algorithms. I have large pages, even bigger social groups, and I make money with it. It's all about "audience listening" by thoroughly researching your avatar or your ideal customer profile/persona. Then you find what social media platform they use the most and scale your activity on it. You'll need to post, engage, and visit a TON at first at least until you establish yourself and then you can slow down. But the trick is conversion. Not a lot of people on social are into forums, especially younger generations.

I used to have a very large weather-related forum. I lost it due to database issues. I tried to re-create it as a forum I have now. A lot of people join and when I promote it on my Facebook page, I made for it long ago (over 10K followers), I get a few memberships each time. But no one is talking and I'm posting topics they can relate to. The domain expires in September of this year. I'm giving it until then to determine whether I want to abort or not. I have a few forums as some of your may know but here lately, I'm trying to manage my life better and wind down my projects a bit. I've closed three other forums that were just wasting space. I'm evaluating a few others. I figured if I lighten my load, I can focus more on the ones I want to grow like AAF and OTF and a few others.

Admin forums like this one and FP, AJ. I'm also pretty active on a forum about UFOs. :)

This item has been removed.

When I was younger, sure. Now, forums for me are a hobby. While I hope for an active forum, I don't care much about the growth of them. It just gives me something fun to do. i like the feeling of coming to a forum with new posts waiting but I'm not going to attempt to weigh down a lot of hope to growth. If I was attempting to make money, it would be different.

As long as it isn't blatant spam or commercial, sure. :)

Blogging and vlogging, like I do now haha. When I took a break from forums some years back, I still kept blogging and doing video stuff.

I have many hobbies that I would prefer not making a forum about. It's mainly because I don't see the audience being too thrilled about using a forum. I try to research audiences as much as possible to mainly retain skills in marketing and copywriting. So, it's a hobby of mine to do it. A few of my passions in life just doesn't make sense for a forum so I'll never start one in it. Instead, I'll go where the audience is and create there.

I prefer to offer cash as prizes paid through PayPal because they're easy! For AAF, I offer cash, advertising, and posts. I feel like that is reasonable. For me, I don't like participating in too many contests LOL. I'd rather give someone else a chance!

I've always wanted to. I've been a storm spotter for 20+ years and ham radio is heavily integrated into that. I've also been involved with local emergency management operations and we relied on hams for emergency operations and communications. It's planned. I used to be an assistant fire chief and always used Motorola radios. I'm sure probably expensive but do they offer good ham radios? I'd want something handheld.

Welcome to the community! :)

Great read and very good and true points [mention=5]Cpvr[/mention]

I'll typically add another moderator fairly quickly to help me keep the forum active. Then I'll wait until the two of us are overwhelmed and need help. Then we can add another moderator. And repeat. So, 1 extra at the get-go and then as needed. I only have one admin on my forums, being me. The rest are moderators.

Ate. Jalapeno Brats, homemade mac and cheese, and a salad. Now on to my 2nd cup of coffee.

Welcome to the community! :)

So that you know, I've sent you a Cease and Desist and also those who host your name servers. I will not stop until you take my content down from your spoof site. I'll keep reporting to anyone and every one until you do.