Which do you prefer? Small forums with only a handful of categories or big forums where there are loads to choose from? While I like big forums like this where there are loads to choose from and talk about, as far as running forums goes: I prefer small forums with only a few categories. In fact, I'm currently working on Chatting Time, and I only have a handful of boards, but I might just keep it that way because it would be a lot easier for me to maintain and manage. I really think small forums with only a few categories are a lot easier; if you're an owner like me, that is. My thing was, I think I tried to do things too big and that's one of the reason's why I always gave up, because it was so overwhelming. I might add one or two offtopic sections, but that's probably it.
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Small forums with only a few categories or big forums
- Thread starter Ashley
- Start date
I like in the middle. A fair bit of topics, and a fair bit of moderators. The size where you can still get to know almost every member very well. Like the size of here. Small is nice, because the member to admin connection is higher, and much easier to manage, but if you loose 1 or 2 members, it really hurts. Big is awful, because you just can't get to know everyone in the site, and it usually takes up much of your time. I like to still be able to enjoy the site, more than spend all the time moderating it.
A forum should still be about having a fun time. If you loose track of that, it just adds extra stress into your life.
A forum should still be about having a fun time. If you loose track of that, it just adds extra stress into your life.
Skillet said:
I guess I was kind of thinking of it in the terms of navigation and stuff. Sorry, I'm not feeling that great so my thinking isn't very clear. But smaller forums are more easier to navigate than some bigger forums are, and it could possibly be easier if you go to request a review someplace as well. So I'm keeping my board small. I don't mind loads of members, but I was thinking more of navigation and things like that.
Nebulous said:
That's exactly why I'm just doing a nice, small sized forum. Might do a general chat section, and then that's about it, I think. It would be overwhelming for me as a forum administrator to have so many forums, and it would be overwhelming for you guys as members because I'm pretty sure that if Chatting Time (or any forum for that matter!) had a load of forums, you wouldn't know where to start or where to stop! I know when I first signed up to Forum Advertiser, I started looking around and I'm like, where do I go, what do I do? I was totally lost. And then when I got promoted to the Elite level, and then applied and was accepted to be a Package Team Member, I was even more lost, because then the hidden forums appeared, and it made FA seem bigger than it really was!
I view the number of categories and such as a gradual process. When you first create a forum you want a more smaller number. This helps focus your board and not spread yourself too thin. As you gain members and activity then you can split up boards and grow.
For me, it depends on how much content there is. For instance, when I first started my forum, I've made the mistake of having very little areas to post in, and when it dawned on me that I should expand, I've went in the polar opposite direction, and ended up having tons of areas and categories, and not much content in them.
Since having run my brother's forum for so long, I've learned the importance of evolution, in that, starting out with just a few basic areas, and then gradually evolve by adding new areas as more and more active topics popped up pertaining to the same subject. That was what worked for me.. and that is what I stick with.
My forum has 4 categories that are visible to members, and even then, the sections in them are grouped like that you'd would find in a newspaper.
Since having run my brother's forum for so long, I've learned the importance of evolution, in that, starting out with just a few basic areas, and then gradually evolve by adding new areas as more and more active topics popped up pertaining to the same subject. That was what worked for me.. and that is what I stick with.
My forum has 4 categories that are visible to members, and even then, the sections in them are grouped like that you'd would find in a newspaper.
Princess said:
Jc said:
These two. Gotta have content in them.
The number of forums you have should be in relation to how much activity both in posts and members online at one time.
The bigger you are then easier it is to fill a forum with posts so you can add more. Having lots of forums with few posts or the other way around would just be terrible IMO.
The bigger you are then easier it is to fill a forum with posts so you can add more. Having lots of forums with few posts or the other way around would just be terrible IMO.
Start small and gradually expand as necessary. Large forums with lots of sections and subsections that try to cover every possible angle are usually a one-way ticket to Doomsville, since they tend to look empty and / or abandoned. Most people operate on "If no one else is posting here, why should I?" principle, so it's better to start small and slowly build your forum as your user base expands. 
