how to start a forum

[oo7]

mickey it is hard to get the traffic like 1000+ member but i think in six months it will happen.

now that makes up around 40k members(some are of anime, some of warez, some from writing material, some are just from a interactive forum he has,,,) its no easy..
i couldnt even call more than 10 guys for him,,, blieve me.. .you have to...

i agree on this

[Luke Skywalker]

My site will be on security but i don't think a forum can be open for that. I want to open forum on a different issue.

[just4kix]

@money_ms,

Starting a forum is not going to start making you money very soon. You have had many advices and clarifications. Let me summarize and theorize some of them:

• A forum is going to cost you money (every year) for domain name registration, hosting and (maybe) the software.
• You will need to choose a topic theme that will interest many people and A VERY GOOD domain name to attract attention (traffic)
• Choose a topic that is of interest to the western world because that will attract people for US, UK, Europe, Aus, etc. This is because these people click on Google Ad's that generate revenue. For instance, a forum related to Bollywood may get you Indian crowd only and they generally do not click on ad's. More on Google ad's later.
• Riff-raff, masala, chats, gossips may bring you a lot of members but hardly any revenue.
• Really good public look for knowledge and knowledge base brings credibility. This in turns results into good publicity and more membership.
• In spite of all this, it maybe a couple of years at least to get 1000+ active members. Generally, over 90% of the members in a forum are sleeping members.

About Google Ad's
I am not an expert on Google ad's and adsense. But what I know is this:

• Google ad sense will place the ad's (after sign-up and being accepted) on your website based on the subject and content of the page. For example, if your page is talking about "travel", it may place ad's such as Travelocity, Expedia, Makemytrip, etc.
• Ad's are also country specific. For example, when I visit rediff and cricinfo in India, I get India related sites such as Airtel Digital, Reliance Netconnect, etc. When I am in US (as now), I get US specific ad's on the same page. Partly this is also because the Akamai server transfers my homepage to a India or US based server depending upon my location.
• Google does not pay you just because there are Google ad's on your website/page. When someone clicks on the ad, the company whose ad appears on the page, pays Google for advertising and Google gives you a fraction of the ad revenue to you.
• The ad revenue per ad-click is miniscule - maybe a few cents per 100 clicks. I am not sure. Do some research on this. I am saying this because the same ad could be placed on thousands of websites all over the world. Google is earning a fixed revenue per client and it is going to distribute some revenue to all these webmasters.
• Google is very smart on such ad clicks. So if you or your friends start clicking on the ad links multiple times (just to earn money), Google will cleverly detect the fraud. It will then delete your account and ban your site, maybe forever.

[oo7]

Thanks just4kix.

With your reply now my all questions had answered.

Thanks a lot man.

[just4kix]

No problem. Glad to help out.

[Luke Skywalker]

There are list of contents on which you can't place googleads:

* Pornography, adult or mature content//It includes adult jokes also I think.
* Violent content
* Content related to racial intolerance or advocacy against any individual, group or organisation
* Excessive profanity
* Hacking/cracking content
* Gambling or casino-related content
* Illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia content
* Sales of beer or hard alcohol
* Sales of tobacco or tobacco-related products
* Sales of prescription drugs
* Sales of weapons or ammunition (e.g. firearms, firearm components, fighting knives, stun guns)
* Sales of products that are replicas or imitations of designer goods
* Sales or distribution of coursework or student essays
* Content regarding programs which compensate users for clicking ads or offers, performing searches, surfing websites or reading emails
* Any other content that is illegal, promotes illegal activity or infringes on the legal rights of others // It include youtube songs illegally placed on it doesn't it?

Read full guidelines here:https://www.google.com/adsense/suppo...y?answer=48182

[talktoanil]

mickey it is hard to get the traffic like 1000+ member but i think in six months it will happen.





i agree on this

hmm i have read all the post and you dont need 10K for starting a forum
I have my forum hosted using SMF. Let me tell you how much it costs.

Forum URL : Marathi Kavita - Index

Purpose : Dedicated for Marathi Literature and not for Money

Domain Name : Rs 500 per year from Hosting India here is the link FREE India Web Hosting Windows Hosting Linux Reseller Hosting

Hosting Space: Hosting India. Plan costs 1999 per year. Link to other plans FREE India Web Hosting Domain Registration Reseller cPanel Linux Hosting

Started On : Feb 2009 with 2 members
As of today 3K members and getting 1L+ hits per month

Total Cost : 500 rs per year domain + 1999 rs per year for hosting = 2500 per year

For free Hosting and free domain/
Noadsfree.com for hosting and Co.CC domain for free.

I hope it helped you.

[oo7]

@talkonanil Thanks alot buddy


and plz tell me what is the outcome of forum like your forum {per month}

[talktoanil]

@talkonanil Thanks alot buddy


and plz tell me what is the outcome of forum like your forum {per month}

You want to know output in terms of money or Popularity ?

Money : I dont do it for money. Still have put up Google Ad-Sense of my friends account.

Popularity : Search on google or yahoo using keyword "Marathi Kavita" , My Site is on 1st page , top 5 links.

Output : Mind statisfaction.


But the point is, if you need to setup a forum, it required dedication of 3+ years to make it popular. When i started this forum, i have posted 300+ post's on my own. You also need a strong SUBJECT which i had and which admin of this website had. Also make sure its unique if possible.

Let me know what's your subject and why you want to open the forum. I can help you even more.

[oo7]

Q1. Ya output or outcome in terms of money ?

Q2. Hosting Space Plan costs 1999 per year.Giving 200Gb per year is this ok for forum or not.

[talktoanil]

Q1. Ya output or outcome in terms of money ?

Q2. Hosting Space Plan costs 1999 per year.Giving 200Gb per year is this ok for forum or not.

1. i have not started my forum by keeping money as main point. but i can tell you how you can do it

2. take the most basic plan as you are new , so even 20GB is oK. cauz it takes more time for a forum to grow-up/

so dont waste money. No matter which hosting you choose. take the most basic plan.

[oo7]

but i can tell you how you can do it

ok buddy tell me.

2. take the most basic plan as you are new , so even 20GB is oK. cauz it takes more time for a forum to grow-up/

ok buddy i start step by step and bit by bit.

[talktoanil]

what your SUBJECT ?

like i had Marathi Kavita which is unique and still mine is the only forum on internet.

whats your topic on same lines?

[oo7]

subject is tech stuff

i really not think of name yet but it is related with tech stuff like computer, moblies etc.etc.

[talktoanil]

subject is tech stuff

i really not think of name yet but it is related with tech stuff like computer, moblies etc.etc.

Well, 1st make a layout of all the sections and subSections on paper and then proceed. and this is not to discourage you but still let me tell you there are 10000 forums on tech stuff. So what unique thing you will do in this arena so that people will join your forum and 2nd , why they will revisit the forum again and again once they join.

Ask this to yourself and post answer here.
If yours is unique , then your forum will grow. else drop the idea now and dont waste your money. rather start a tech blog and save your money. Blog requires no money. you can get it for free on blogspot.com or blogger.com

if you have a domain , then you can redirect your blog to your domain which we will talk later. 1st post the answers of questions i asked.

Hope this will give you more clarity.

[oo7]

ya i m aware of blog system but i want to start a Forum.

ya first i write all the sections and subSections on paper and then proceed.

again thanks a lot man. nice to chat with you.

[talktoanil]

same here. and All the best.