Strong communities are built on shared goals and trust.
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Growth How Much Content Should You Have Before Launching a New Forum?
I don't feel like there is a set number to focus on. Rather, I think you need to have recent content on the main niche sections. If your boards look dead, they'll likely stay dead. But the content quality is important, too. I don't join forums, so I can reply to "A-Z word game" posts. I join...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #4
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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Leadership What if your partner or co-owner vanishes?
This happens to me usually when I make the first person who asks a moderator, especially those I don't know. Here lately, I try to go with folks I know. AAF has AWS, who is someone I know. This thread reminds me that I need to get active on his forum. I've been so busy lately with everything.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #4
- Forum: Leadership & Community Management
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Are you a fan of bookmarks?
Oh yeah. I have tons of bookmarks and folders to put them in. I bet I have bookmarks from 10 years ago.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #5
- Forum: Off-Topic Hangout
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What's your favorite means for receiving payment?
Locally, I can do checks, money orders, or cash. Digitally, I can do paypal, venmo, and stripe. I don't know a thing about crypto.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #20
- Forum: Off-Topic Hangout
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Growth What social media platforms do you use to promote your forum?
Mainly Facebook, X, Bluesky, and YouTube. Typically Facebook and YouTube are the bread winners when it comes to conversion.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #7
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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Do you research before you start writing?
Oh yeah. I have a strategy when it comes to getting on page one of search engines. Part of it requires research otherwise what's the point?- Shawn Gossman
- Post #25
- Forum: Off-Topic Hangout
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How do you handle conflicts between staff members and users?
I typically go into private message with both. If the conflict is due to one or the other doing something wrong or being unfair, I'll investigate as the forum admin and take action if needed. If they can't get along, I'll give the ultimatum that I will not remove the staff member and will not...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #3
- Forum: Website Administration & Management
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Guide Best Places to Advertise Your Website in 2025
Nice list. Thanks for including me :)- Shawn Gossman
- Post #8
- Forum: Resources & Articles
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Forums that doesn't send notifications to mail?
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #12
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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How long have you been running your current 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- Shawn Gossman
- Post #6
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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General Do You Allow Multiple Accounts
I typically don't but sometimes if notified, I'll allow two accounts using the same IP address for like spouses and what not.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #7
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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General Are forums outdated now? Do they still work well for getting feedback and providing answers?
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #6
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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Foundation Shutting Down a forum
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #5
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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Favorite aspect of running an online community?
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #12
- Forum: Building & Growing Your Community
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General What's your take on members without an avatar?
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.- Shawn Gossman
- Post #14
- Forum: Leadership & Community Management
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Guide Don't build a boring community
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #4
- Forum: Resources & Articles
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Cheapest Forum Posting Service – Quality Posts at Unbeatable Prices!
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #2
- Forum: Growth & Exchange Marketplace
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General Reaching a targeted audience on social media.
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #3
- Forum: Platform Empowerment & Customization
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Engagement What's easier, reviving a long dead forum or starting a new one?
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...- Shawn Gossman
- Post #7
- Forum: Leadership & Community Management
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Which forums are you mostly active on?
Admin forums like this one and FP, AJ. I'm also pretty active on a forum about UFOs. :)- Shawn Gossman
- Post #6
- Forum: Website Administration & Management
