InMyOpinion

Currently I am working on videos for my business Facebook & Instagram page however I am looking for a good free video editing software. I am a newb so I want something that will be easy for me to use and understand. I want free software because at this point I am not able to afford paying for it though in the future that may change. I look forward to hearing what video editing software everyone uses.

I think that in the beginning of your forum or website you should handle your social media yourself as you may want to use your funds wisely so you don't go broke early on. Once your forum or website is making money that would be a good time to then hire someone. Social media is definitely something that I need to be more active on as it can be a HUGE tool to get people on your forum/website if done right. I know social media is something that I need to do better at and though I'm going to be handling my social media myself for a while I am excited for the day that I can hire someone as they may have more experience and expertise than I do.

Building a strong and engaged following is all about creating value and fostering genuine connections. Here are a few key steps: Engaging Content – Share high-quality, relevant content that resonates with your audience. Behind-the-scenes looks, industry insights, and interactive posts (polls, Q&As) can spark engagement. Community Interaction – Respond to comments, start discussions, and show appreciation for your audience’s input. A strong group thrives on active participation! Consistency & Branding – Maintain a consistent posting schedule and a clear brand voice. Whether it’s professional, classy, or playful, your audience should recognize your unique style. Collaboration & Networking – Partner with like-minded individuals or businesses to cross-promote and expand your reach. Industry shoutouts, guest features, or collaborations can introduce you to new audiences. Exclusive Opportunities – Give your audience a reason to stay engaged! Whether it's early access to events, exclusive offers, or featured opportunities, incentives can boost loyalty and participation.

That's amazing! Congratulations =) Currently we don't have a Facebook because the forum isn't up and running but once it is I will create a Facebook for it

I like the first one more, but maybe have the outer circle connected and the inner circle not connected. But the first one is my pick

54 & 27

I really appreciate the transparency and the effort you and Cedric put into making Administrata the best it can be! I think streamlining the upgrade system into a single tier makes a lot of sense—it keeps things simple and ensures the benefits are as strong as possible. For me, a good upgrade would include a mix of practical perks (like solid discounts) and community benefits (like exclusive discussions in the Premium Membership forum). Maybe even some cosmetic perks like a unique usergroup color or badge to make upgraded members stand out? Excited to see where this goes! Love that you’re getting community input before making changes.

Celebrating community milestones is a fantastic way to keep members engaged and show appreciation for their contributions! Here are a few ways that I will be celebrating community milestones: Spotlight Features – Highlight top contributors, insightful discussions, or creative projects in a dedicated post. Maybe even feature members in an “Industry Insider” thread! Giveaways & Discounts – Partner with brands or forum members to offer exclusive discounts on services, portfolio shoots, or event access for milestone celebrations. Exclusive Member Badges – Custom badges for active users (e.g., “Founding Member,” “Industry Pro,” “Networking Star”) encourage participation and give recognition. Virtual Networking Events – Host milestone Q&As, AMAs, or mini-webinars with industry experts to give members more reasons to stay engaged. Throwback & Success Stories – Share success stories of collaborations that started in the forum or showcase members’ career progress over time. “Stay Tuned” Perks – Keep members excited by teasing upcoming forum upgrades, exclusive partnerships, or future advertising opportunities for active users. Currently my forum isn't open to the public yet, but once it is, those are the ways I will be celebrating community milestones.

Hi [mention=571]Timelord_[/mention] welcome to Administrata! I'm sure you'll love it here and look forward to seeing you around the forum

Hey [uSER=573]@TulleTweed&Co[/uSER] welcome to the community! Starting your own blog and building your site from scratch is a huge achievement, especially when you're learning as you go. It’s awesome that you’ve created a space to share your work on your own terms—that kind of creative freedom is so valuable! I totally get what you mean about the learning curve when it comes to the tech side of things. There’s always something new to figure out, but it sounds like you’ve already made great progress. Plus, having a unique voice as a writer is such an asset—not just for your own blog, but for others looking to develop their sites too. Looking forward to seeing what you share and learning from each other. Hope you enjoy being part of the community!

I don’t think staff team leaders are necessarily a thing of the past, but I do think their role has evolved. In the early days of forums, having a clear hierarchy made sense. Admins at the top, moderators handling day-to-day tasks, and team leaders bridging the gap. But with modern communities, especially smaller or more tight-knit ones, the structure can be more fluid. A lot depends on the size and complexity of the forum. If you’ve got a large, active community, having team leaders can help keep things organized, prevent burnout, and make sure issues are addressed efficiently. But in a smaller forum, adding another layer of leadership might just slow things down. I’d say it really comes down to how responsibilities are shared and whether a team leader actually adds value. If they’re just there for the title and not making things run smoother, then yeah, maybe they are becoming a thing of the past. But if they’re keeping things structured and making the staff’s job easier, then I’d argue they’re still very much relevant.

I will take the 2nd spot I have completed my part =)

I will take the second spot if [mention=96]fdk[/mention] isn't able to take the second spot.

I think having a solid base of content before launching is important, but you don’t need hundreds of threads to get started. If a forum looks completely empty, it can be intimidating for new users to post. But at the same time, if it’s overloaded with pre-written content, it might feel artificial. Personally, I’d aim for a balance—enough threads and discussions to give new members something to engage with, but still leaving room for them to shape the community. Maybe 10-20 well-thought-out topics spread across different sections, along with some starter discussions to encourage replies. Another big factor is engagement. If you have a few people ready to actively participate from day one, even a small amount of content can quickly turn into a lively community.

Right now, my website isn’t open to the public yet, so promotion isn’t something my staff is actively involved in. But once it is open, I’d definitely expect my staff to help spread the word. After all, if they’re invested in the community and want to see it thrive, promoting it should feel natural! That being said, I think promotion should be more about enthusiasm than obligation. If staff members genuinely enjoy the forum, they’ll naturally want to share it with others. Encouraging them to post about it on social media, invite friends, or engage in networking spaces related to our niche would be ideal.

A well-organized knowledge base can be a game-changer for any community. It helps members find answers quickly, reduces repetitive questions, and establishes your community as a go-to resource. But what makes a knowledge base truly useful rather than just a collection of random posts? Here are some best practices to keep in mind: [HEADING=2]1. Structure It for Easy Navigation[/HEADING] A messy knowledge base is as bad as having no knowledge base at all. Organize content into clear categories and subcategories so users can find what they need without endless scrolling. A simple structure like FAQs, Tutorials, and Resources can go a long way. [HEADING=2]2. Keep Information Up-to-Date[/HEADING] Outdated information leads to confusion. Set a routine to review and update content regularly. If something becomes irrelevant, archive or remove it to keep things fresh. [HEADING=2]3. Encourage Community Contributions[/HEADING] A knowledge base shouldn’t be built by just one person. Allow trusted members to contribute, whether through a submission process or a dedicated “Help Improve This Page” feature. More perspectives mean more valuable insights! [HEADING=2]4. Use Clear, Concise Language[/HEADING] Nobody wants to dig through paragraphs of text for a simple answer. Keep explanations straightforward, break up content with headings, and use bullet points or step-by-step guides when possible. [HEADING=2]5. Add Search Functionality[/HEADING] A search bar is a must. Even with great organization, some users will prefer to search for what they need instead of navigating through categories. Make sure your search function is accurate and intuitive. [HEADING=2]6. Keep It Engaging[/HEADING] A knowledge base doesn’t have to be dry! Use visuals, screenshots, or even short videos to illustrate complex topics. Formatting with bold text, highlights, and lists can also make content easier to skim. [HEADING=2]7. Link Related Topics[/HEADING] Help users discover relevant content by linking to related articles or discussions. If a question has been covered in a forum thread, link to it! This keeps knowledge centralized and prevents duplication. [HEADING=2]8. Get Feedback & Improve[/HEADING] Your community knows best what’s working and what’s not. Ask for feedback on whether the knowledge base is helpful, what’s missing, and what could be improved. A simple feedback form or occasional community polls can help fine-tune the experience. [HEADING=2]Final Thoughts[/HEADING] A great knowledge base is always evolving. By keeping it structured, up-to-date, and community-driven, you can create a resource that not only helps members but also strengthens your forum as a whole. What strategies have worked best for you in building a knowledge base?

Let’s be real—no matter what niche your forum is in, there’s probably another community out there covering similar topics. So how do you handle the competition? Do you focus on what makes your forum unique, collaborate with other communities, or just ignore them entirely? Personally, I think the best approach is to lean into what makes your forum different. Whether that’s a unique atmosphere, better moderation, or a tighter-knit community, people will stick around if they feel like they’re getting something special. At the same time, competition isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, seeing what others are doing can spark new ideas or show you gaps in your own community that need improvement. Have you ever adjusted your forum’s direction because of another community? How do you approach competition? Do you see it as a challenge, an opportunity, or something to just not worry about?

Welcome back! =)

I created my very first forum back when I was 16 (I'm 32 now). I created a few more after that but then took more of a decade break. Now I'm back and I'm about to open my forum to the public, I'm excited =)

I TOO OBJECT!! But thank you Cory for all of your hard work, dedication and awesomeness! We will miss you

User count is nice to track, but it doesn’t mean much if people aren’t actually engaging. For me, the real signs of growth are things like: Engagement Rate – Are members actively posting, replying, and starting discussions? A growing forum should feel alive, not just be a list of registered accounts. Retention – Are people sticking around after signing up, or do they disappear after a few posts? Seeing familiar names pop up consistently is a great sign of a strong community. Quality of Contributions – Are discussions meaningful, or is it just spammy one-liners? A forum grows best when members genuinely want to contribute to conversations. New vs. Returning Users – A mix of fresh faces and loyal members shows that the forum is both attracting new people and keeping them engaged. I’d rather have a smaller, highly active community than a huge list of inactive users.

I have also completed my spot =)

I love events that get people interacting in creative ways! Posting competitions are fun, but I think activities that encourage actual collaboration and personality make a bigger impact. I really like themed photo contests or creative challenges—things like "show us your workspace," "share your best makeup look," (it goes with my forum theme) or even something silly like a meme contest. It gives people a chance to express themselves beyond just regular discussions. Collaborative projects are also a great way to bring a community together. I’ve seen things like community-built guides or story threads where each person adds to the plot, and those can be so fun when people really get into it!

My current forum is yet to be open to the public but in the past on my previous forum I wouldI try to read as much as I can, but once a forum started growing, keeping up with every post became almost impossible. In the beginning, I was super diligent about reading everything, but over time, I had to prioritize. Then, would focus on key areas—staff discussions, member concerns, and any high-engagement threads—while skimming the rest when I had time. I do think it’s important to stay on top of things, especially to catch rule-breaking posts or to understand what the community is talking about. But at some point, spending hours reading every single post might not be the best use of time. If I fall behind, I’ll check the most active discussions first rather than trying to catch up on everything. That said, I admire anyone who manages to keep up with 90% of their forum’s posts—that’s some serious dedication especially when you have a very active forum.

I definitely overthink this kind of decision because an empty sub-forum just looks bad. If I’m considering adding one, I usually ask myself: Are there already enough threads on this topic to justify it? Have members actually requested it, or is it just one person’s idea? Would it help organize the forum better, or just add clutter? If I’m on the fence, I might test it out by pinning a megathread first. If that thread gets steady engagement, then I know there’s real interest and it makes sense to expand. But if it flops, I just let it fade instead of having an empty sub-forum sitting there awkwardly. I’ve definitely had both wins and flops! Sometimes, I thought a section would take off and it just... didn’t. Other times, something I hesitated on ended up being one of the most active parts of the forum.