Some forums require invitations or paid access, while others are open to all. Which model works best? Have you found that exclusivity increases quality, or does openness drive more engagement?

It depends on what you are looking for though and the audience you are trying to attract. In some cases entry by invitation or subscription works, while in most cases free to all is the best. Both has their advantages and disadvantages.

Choosing between a private or public forum depends on your goals. A public forum offers broader engagement, attracting a diverse audience and boosting visibility. However, it may struggle with moderation and spam. A private forum, though more secure and controlled, may limit growth but builds a closer-knit community. Both models have their merits depending on your desired level of accessibility and privacy.

I have never run a private forums. I tried private access to a certain section on one of my forums but I did not have anyone who was willing to pay money to access private section. Therefore, I have stopped doing it. Whether you should run a private forum or public forum depends on your preference and goal. It is not possible to say which one is good.

I think it comes down to the niche of the forum. If you have specific content that is unique to your site and you don't want it to fall to the public, then having a private forum is fine.

On 6/12/2025 at 1:19 AM, Nomad said:

I have never run a private forums. I tried private access to a certain section on one of my forums but I did not have anyone who was willing to pay money to access private section. Therefore, I have stopped doing it. Whether you should run a private forum or public forum depends on your preference and goal. It is not possible to say which one is good.

I couldn't run a private forum either. However, I do see some running them on Substack, Mighty Networks and others. It works well for them as they charge a monthly subscription just to access their forum. Cutting off access to a forum and charging others to access content isn't something that I could do as a community owner.

I've seen it happen where it worked for a brief time. But ultimately, it depends on your audience and niche. It can work for sure, but it's quite limited.

11 hours ago, Cpvr said:

I couldn't run a private forum either. However, I do see some running them on Substack, Mighty Networks and others. It works well for them as they charge a monthly subscription just to access their forum. Cutting off access to a forum and charging others to access content isn't something that I could do as a community owner.

For Mighty Networks and Circle, they're more akin to selling course or pay to interact type of community. The infrastructure is great and what they offer is also good but you do have to have a community that is willing to pay in order to gain access as you're paying a large monthly sub in order to just create the community itself.