Running a forum

[Jack Gordon]

Hey all,

I am getting ready to take my first crack at running a web forum. You can see the beginnings of it here: http://www.ratemovies.com/forum/

I could sure use your suggestions, advice, warnings, or other benefits of experience as I venture into this. I would also welcome any of you who would be willing to register and help me "prime the pump" so to speak. I don't plan to officially launch for a couple of weeks, but it will be a lot easier if there is already some activity there.

Help!

p.s. that is probably not my final logo...

 

[izopod]

Nice forum/site FrontRow! (also very good idea!!)

Before I go to any movie nowadays, I always check the internet to see whether a movie is good or not. Going to movies are getting expensive and no one wants to go to a "hyped" bad movie.

Normally I go to Yahoo Movies, but I'll be sure to keep your site in mind.

One thing I would do is change your "poll" rating system. Way too many choices. It's either good or bad. Don't care if someone else would have rather gone to the T-3 Movie instead of Legally Blonde 2... The reason for this is that you don't want to dilute the rating on whether a good movie or not. The other choices tend to "get in the way". I would just do a Good, Bad, or Ugly "theme" rating system (then TM it!!). The thumbs up/down is actually TM'd by Robert Ebert (and his deceased partner Siskel).

 

[Jack Gordon]

Thanks Izopod - that sounds like good advice (will also save me a lot of creative juice!)

 

[Jack Gordon]

bump-a-rump

anyone else?

pleeeeeeease check it out, register and give me a little activity I can use to get this thing started.

 

[Luc]

Good job.

I had this domain a few years ago hoping to do the same thing
with it.

I let it drop 2 years ago or so. I'm glad someone finally put it
to use!

Looks good, best of luck!
Luc L.

 

[actnow]

FrontRow,

Great idea!!!

I can tell you are going to make me go to the movies this weekend!

Good luck with your site.

And, I give you my review of the movie next week.

 

[Jack Gordon]

Thanks DR & Act!

I'd appreciate any activity you can post.

 

[Steen]

Awsome, i always wnated to open a forum (on consoles.net) but got scared of the idea nd dont know design


I dont want ot pour $ into it either...

Maybe i will try htough, hopefully I will get some members

 

[Jack Gordon]

it was easier than I thought it would be to set up, but I can see how the maintenance could get totally overwhelming...

a bare-bones knowledge of setting up sql databases and ftp was about all I needed to get it going. the rest is just going through the features and figuring them out.

there is still a LOT to be learned on my end... but I gues I'll just learn it as I go

 

[NameGuy]

ClassicMovie.com -- f/s

 

[spietreser]

Originally posted by devildude8989
Awsome, i always wnated to open a forum (on consoles.net) but got scared of the idea nd dont know design

Well, you can try to get a whizkid designer from www.yaxay.com to design you a website for cheap.
Good luck!

 

[cyphix]

Good luck with your site & forum.

I've been developing http://www.videocardforum.com/

It doesn't currently correctly work in Netscape btw, until I fix some extra javascript code up for netscape.

 

[GregNelson]

I just redirect my URL straight to ezboard, $5 a month for
the no add forum is easy and cheaper than webhosting, and
your members can join in the 10,000s of other forums with the one account. Nothing custom but I got some javascript running in the header and grab some images from a free webhost. Got 2000 hits the first month with a dozen plugs, most forums would get 200 posts with that but starting out is harder, best to rig a few people to chat so people join in.

 

[Keith]

Ezboard = *Thumbs down*

 

[Jack Gordon]

Originally posted by GregNelson
Got 2000 hits the first month with a dozen plugs

Can you please elaborate on this part?

 

[GregNelson]

Its YeOldeCoffeeShoppe.com with namesecure, they said I can promote it to 10 newsgroups without it being called spam, did that and also gave a quick 'join my new forum' in the more popular ezboards. Easy name to promote I guess for a forum, but no more promotion until a small crowd starts, 4 members is a bit slack!