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I go back and forth on this. On a couple of my sites I have chat enabled. The chat works well on those sites and compliments the forum well. The sites I use chat software on are an off topic forum and a computer help forum. I have used it on other sites and on those the chat took over. Everyone went to posting in the chat instead of the fourm. What's your thoughts?
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When is a forum community not a community? Let us know what you think would cause a forum to turn into something else besides a community. Is it bad if it transforms to something different?
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Selecting forum moderators is crucial for maintaining a positive and productive community. Here’s a guide to help you choose the right moderators: 1. Define the Role Responsibilities: Outline what moderators will do, such as enforcing rules, resolving conflicts, and engaging with members. Authority: Specify the level of authority they will have, including the ability to delete posts, ban users, etc. 2. Set Criteria for Selection Experience: Look for candidates with experience in moderation or community management. Knowledge: Ensure they have a good understanding of the forum's topic. Communication Skills: They should possess strong written communication skills to interact effectively with users. 3. Seek Community Input Polls and Surveys: Ask community members for their opinions on potential moderators. Nominations: Allow users to nominate candidates they believe would be effective moderators. 4. Evaluate Candidates Activity Level: Check how active candidates are in the forum. Regular contributors are often more familiar with the community dynamics. Behavior: Assess their past behavior. Look for those who are respectful, helpful, and fair in discussions. 5. Conduct Interviews One-on-One Discussions: Interview candidates to understand their motivations, ideas for the forum, and conflict resolution strategies. Scenario-Based Questions: Present hypothetical situations to gauge their judgment and approach to moderation. 6. Trial Period Temporary Moderation: Consider appointing candidates on a trial basis to see how they perform in the role. Feedback Mechanism: Allow the community to provide feedback on the trial moderators. 7. Provide Training Guidelines and Policies: Ensure moderators are familiar with forum rules and moderation policies. Tools and Resources: Provide training on moderation tools and conflict resolution strategies. 8. Monitor Performance Regular Check-Ins: Schedule periodic reviews to discuss performance and address any concerns. Community Feedback: Continuously gather feedback from the community regarding the moderators' effectiveness. 9. Recognize and Reward Acknowledgment: Recognize the hard work of moderators publicly to boost morale. Incentives: Consider offering incentives such as badges, titles, or even small rewards for dedicated service. 10. Be Open to Change Reevaluation: Regularly reassess the moderation team and be willing to make changes if necessary. Adaptability: Stay flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of the community. By following these steps, you can select effective moderators who will help foster a welcoming and engaging forum environment.
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Promoting a user to a forum moderator typically depends on several factors: Activity Level: The user should be active and engaged in the community, consistently participating in discussions. Knowledge and Expertise: They should have a good understanding of the forum's topics and rules, demonstrating expertise and reliability. Community Respect: The user should be respected by peers, showing they can communicate effectively and handle disagreements maturely. Problem-Solving Skills: They should exhibit the ability to resolve conflicts, mediate discussions, and maintain a positive atmosphere. Adherence to Rules: The user should consistently follow the forum rules themselves and encourage others to do the same. Willingness to Help: They should show a willingness to help others, answering questions and guiding new members. Time Commitment: The user should be willing to dedicate time to moderating duties, including monitoring posts and addressing issues as they arise. Recommendation from Current Moderators: Input from existing moderators can be valuable in assessing a candidate's suitability. If a user meets most or all of these criteria, it might be a good time to consider them for a moderator role.
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I will be importing Forum² into here in the near future. I have consolidated my tech sites and now it time to bring together my admin sites. This will also bring over the skins and other resources I have at Forum². Once the import is done and the dust has settled I will upgrade the site to IPB 5. Stay tuned for more info to come.
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Once you decide to start a community you have to decide which forum software to use. Choosing the best forum software depends on your specific needs, such as ease of use, customization, and community features. Here are some popular options: Discourse: Modern and user-friendly, with features like real-time discussions, mobile support, and extensive plugins. phpBB: A classic, open-source forum software that is highly customizable and has a large community. Vanilla Forums: Offers both open-source and paid versions, known for its clean interface and integration options. Flarum: A lightweight and modern forum software that is easy to set up and customize. Simple Machines Forum (SMF): A robust and flexible option with a strong community and a wide range of modifications. MyBB: Free and open-source, it provides a good balance of features and ease of use. NodeBB: Built on Node.js, it offers real-time discussions and a modern interface, suitable for tech-savvy users. XenForo: A premium option known for its powerful features and excellent support, ideal for larger communities. Consider your requirements regarding scalability, features, and budget when choosing the right software for your forum. My personal favorite is xenForo. I do like Discourse and in the future I will create a forum using it.
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A "newbie" in a community refers to a newcomer or someone who is inexperienced in that particular community or field. This term is often used in online forums, gaming, and various interest groups to describe individuals who are still learning the ropes, familiarizing themselves with the norms, rules, and culture of the community. Newbies may have questions, seek guidance, or look for resources to help them get started. If you are new to forums a "newbie" then you've come to the right place to get tips and help starting your own forum community.
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So you want to be a forum admin. You bought or are using free software. You picked a niche you are familiar with. You're all set to make the big step to owning your own community. Here are some tips to help you along. Being a forum admin requires a combination of skills, responsibilities, and personal attributes. Technical Skills: Familiarity with forum software (e.g., phpBB, vBulletin, Discourse). Basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and possibly some programming languages. Knowledge of database management. Moderation Skills: Ability to enforce rules and guidelines fairly. Conflict resolution skills to handle disputes between users. Monitoring discussions to ensure a positive environment. Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication with users. Ability to convey decisions and changes in policies transparently. Time Commitment: Regularly monitoring the forum and responding to user inquiries. Dedication to maintaining the community, which may require daily involvement. Community Engagement: Encouraging user participation and fostering a sense of community. Organizing events or discussions to keep the forum active. Problem-Solving Skills: Quick thinking to address issues or technical problems as they arise. Ability to adapt to changing situations and user needs. Understanding of Community Guidelines: Knowledge of the forum's rules and the ability to enforce them consistently. Patience and Empathy: Understanding users' perspectives and providing support when needed. Patience in dealing with difficult situations or users. Being a forum admin can be rewarding, but it also comes with challenges, requiring a balance of authority and approachability. Hope this gives you some insight to what it takes to be a forum admin.
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Creating a forum community can be a daunting task. Once you have the domain and everything is set up the way you like it's time to open. Here are some tips for forum admins to effectively manage their communities: Establish Clear Guidelines: Create and enforce clear community rules to maintain a respectful and constructive environment. Engage with Members: Actively participate in discussions to foster a sense of community and encourage members to engage. Moderation Team: Assemble a reliable team of moderators to help manage content and enforce rules consistently. Regular Updates: Keep the forum software and plugins updated to ensure security and enhance user experience. Feedback Mechanism: Implement a system for users to provide feedback on forum features and moderation. Promote Content: Highlight valuable posts or threads to encourage quality contributions. Encourage Introductions: Create a section for new members to introduce themselves, helping to build connections. Organize Events: Host contests, Q&A sessions, or webinars to increase engagement and interaction. Utilize Analytics: Monitor forum activity and user engagement using analytics tools to identify trends and areas for improvement. Be Transparent: Communicate openly about changes, policies, and decisions affecting the community. Conflict Resolution: Handle disputes promptly and fairly, ensuring all parties feel heard. Create FAQs: Develop a FAQ section to address common questions and reduce repetitive inquiries. By following these tips, forum admins can create a thriving, engaged community.
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Generating content for your site can be approached in various effective ways. Here are some of the best methods: Blog Posts: Write informative articles or guides related to your niche. Use SEO techniques to optimize for search engines. User-Generated Content: Encourage your audience to submit their own content, such as reviews, testimonials, or stories. Visual Content: Create infographics, videos, or slideshows to convey information in a visually appealing way. Podcasts: Start a podcast series discussing topics relevant to your audience. Social Media Integration: Share content from your social media platforms and engage with your audience to generate discussions. Email Newsletters: Send regular updates or curated content to your subscribers to keep them engaged. Webinars and Live Events: Host webinars or live Q&A sessions to provide value and interact with your audience in real-time. Surveys and Polls: Conduct surveys to understand what your audience wants and create content based on their feedback. Collaborations: Partner with influencers or other brands to create joint content that reaches a wider audience. Content Repurposing: Take existing content and adapt it into different formats (e.g., turning a blog post into a video). These are all great tips and by combining these strategies, you can create diverse and engaging content that resonates with your audience and enhances your site’s visibility. -
We are excited to announce that in addition to Enterprise, all Discourse AI features are now available on Standard and Business, excluding the Starter plan. What this means is if you have the Discourse AI plugin enabled, you should now be able to see all the related site settings for all features. This is a big change and we hope this opens the doors to more people using Discourse AI. Please note we are still in the process of updating the website and documentation 1 post - 1 participant Read full topic
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/secure-uploads/original/4X/f/0/4/f04a3ff4f38cd63477c8df3eb015c24e24ec4218.png Curious about design at Discourse? Here’s your chance to get behind-the-scenes look from the talented designers who shape both our internal platform and customer communities. During this session, you’ll hear from designers across Discourse as they share: Design tips and customizations you can explore for your community. Insights into how our design team is structured at Discourse. Our design team’s unique approaches to design challenges. How we collaborate and bring projects to life. Highlights of favorite design projects. This is a great opportunity to connect with our design experts. Plus, there will be a live Q&A where you can get your specific questions answered. Wednesday, October 30, 2024 5:00 PM UTC Register Here 1 post - 1 participant Read full topic View the full article
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I would like to start a community forum built on Invision Community v5. I have the license and the servers. What is needed is the topic for the forum and the domain. I did this once before when I was an admin at TAZ. We created a general discussion forum. It was very popular and when we closed it it had over a millions posts. I think a talented group of admins like the ones we have here could build a great community. Let's use this thread to brainstorm and come up with a topic and domain. Who wants to join me?
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All the latest news and info from the Woltlab Burning Board RSS feeds will be posted in this thread.
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Some Errors You Might Encounter in Your Forum Software
AWS posted a topic in Bugs, Errors & Problems
Common errors in forum software can vary depending on the specific platform, but here are some general issues that users and administrators often encounter: Database Connection Errors: Issues connecting to the database can prevent the forum from loading or functioning correctly. User Registration Problems: Users may face difficulties registering, such as not receiving confirmation emails or encountering validation errors. Login Issues: Problems with user authentication, such as incorrect password errors or account lockouts. Permission Errors: Users may not have the correct permissions to view or post in certain sections, leading to access denied messages. Broken Links: Internal or external links may not work, leading to 404 errors or redirect issues. Spam and Bot Attacks: Forums can be targeted by spam bots, leading to excessive unwanted posts and comments. Performance Issues: Slow loading times or crashes, often due to high traffic or poorly optimized code. Theme and Plugin Conflicts: Custom themes or plugins may conflict with the core software, causing display issues or functionality problems. Data Loss or Corruption: Issues during updates or migrations can lead to loss of posts, user data, or settings. Inadequate Moderation Tools: Lack of effective moderation tools can lead to inappropriate content being posted and difficulty managing user behavior. Search Functionality Issues: Search features may not return relevant results or may be completely broken. Mobile Responsiveness Problems: Forums may not display correctly on mobile devices, leading to a poor user experience. Incompatibility with Browsers: Some features may not work correctly in all web browsers, leading to inconsistent user experiences. Security Vulnerabilities: Outdated software can expose forums to security risks, including data breaches. Email Delivery Issues: Notifications and updates may not be sent or received due to misconfigured email settings. Addressing these errors typically involves regular maintenance, updates, and user feedback to improve the forum's functionality and user experience. -
All the latest news and info from the Discourse RSS feeds will be posted in this thread.
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All the latest news and info from the vBulletin RSS feeds will be posted in this thread.
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This is a forum for people that have visited forums. This forum is for the newbie that doesn't own a forum to ask questions and discuss what they see if good/bad about the modern forum communities. No admin experience necessary.
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You can fire up a docker container on an Linux distro. To install Discourse, follow these general steps: [HEADING=2]Prerequisites[/HEADING] Server Requirements: A server with Ubuntu 20.04 or later. At least 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended). A domain name. [*]Install Docker:Discourse runs in a Docker container, so you'll need to have Docker installed. [HEADING=2]Installation Steps[/HEADING] Access Your Server: Log into your server via SSH: ssh username@your_server_ip Install Docker:If Docker isn't already installed, run: sudo apt update sudo apt install -y docker.io sudo systemctl start docker sudo systemctl enable docker Install Git:If you don't have Git installed, do so by running: sudo apt install -y git Clone the Discourse Docker Repository: git clone [url='https://github.com/discourse/discourse_docker. git[/code] </pre><li>[b]Run the Discourse Setup[/b]:Use the provided setup script: [code]cp samples/standalone.yml containers/app.yml[/code [*][b]Edit the Configuration[/b]:Open app.yml and configure your settings, such as the hostname and email settings: [code]nano containers/app.ymLaunch Discourse:Start the Discourse application with: sudo ./launcher bootstrap app sudo ./launcher start app Access Discourse:Open your web browser and go to http://your_domain_or_ip to complete the setup. [HEADING=2]Post-Installation[/HEADING] Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Discourse admin account. Configure additional settings as needed through the Discourse admin panel. [HEADING=2]Additional Resources[/HEADING] For detailed installation instructions, refer to the official Discourse installation guide. If you encounter any issues, feel free to ask for help!
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XenForo is a commercial forum software developed by XenForo Ltd. It is designed to create and manage online communities, offering a range of features that enhance user interaction and engagement. Here are some key aspects of XenForo: Key Features User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design that makes it easy for users to navigate and interact with the forum. Responsive Design: Optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless experience across different screen sizes. Customization Options: Extensive themes and add-ons available for users to customize their forums according to their needs. SEO Friendly: Built-in features to help improve search engine optimization, making forums more discoverable. Moderation Tools: Comprehensive tools for moderators and administrators to manage content and user behavior effectively. Rich User Profiles: Enhanced user profiles that allow members to showcase their activity and interests. Community Engagement Notifications and Alerts: Users receive notifications about replies, mentions, and other activities, keeping them engaged. Social Media Integration: Options for users to share content on social media platforms, increasing visibility and interaction. Security and Performance Regular Updates: Frequent updates to address security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Robust Security Features: Measures to protect forums from spam and unauthorized access. Support and Documentation Active Community: A strong community of users and developers that can provide support and share resources. Comprehensive Documentation: Detailed guides and documentation available to help users set up and manage their forums effectively. XenForo is popular among businesses, hobbyists, and organizations looking to foster online discussions and community building.
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I admit I have been lax adding new topics to spur discussions since I opened the community. The reason is that the current structure of forums are old and antiquated. The current structure, category hierarchy with linear list of threads, has outlived it's usefulness. People want to see what's new and interesting without having to click several links to get to the content. Saying that I am looking at options to move this community into the 21ST century. As it is now this community, as well as thousands like it, are stuck in the early 2000's. This is the single most reason why forums are failing. I am looking at alternatives. I have narrowed the choice down to either Vanilla, Flarum or Discourse. At this point in time I am leaning towards Discourse or Vanilla since I have experience with those. I had test sites up for staff of my tech site to play with before a planned migration. Discourse scales well as traffic to the site grows. Styling it is fairly simple since it can all be done by editing a few css files. As it is Discourse is the front runner. I have experience with Vanilla since I was an admin on a site that migrated from vbulletin to Vanilla. At first activity slowed, but once the users got used to the way it works activity increased. New user signups also increased and posting by those new users also increased. Flarum I have no experience with, but, I do like the aesthetics of it. I might install a test version to see if it will be a viable option. Look for changes to come. If this forum is to be a major player it has to step into the future.
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We've all seen new forum communities pop up all the time. Some become instant hits and some never take off. New forum admins tend to make the same mistakes which cause their forum to be less attractive to new sign ups. Lets start a list of the common mistakes new forum admins make. I'll start. Having a popup, usually with some ugly graphic, encouraging you to join the community. A welcome message isn't a problem it's those javascript popups you come across on so many new sites. New admins think they are cool. Another mistake new forum admins make is they will put Google Adsense ads on the site with no content. I don't have a problem with ads. I have a problem with the ads I see when I visit a new forum. Since there is little to no content to serve relevant ads you get those girl friend finder ads or a public service ads. Lets hear some other mistakes new forum admins make.
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I'd like to welcome everyone to my newest forum. I previously owned another forum geared towards forum admins and sold it. I decided that it was time to start another forum for forum enthusiasts, be it forum admins, moderators or anyone that enjoys forums, to gather and discuss forums. At one time there was a forum for forum enthusiasts called Forum Forum. It was the first forum of its kind and was very popular until it was hacked. The forum owner decided after the hacking that he wasn't going to bring it back. When Forum Forum closed a big void was left. There were forums for forum admins, but, no place for forums admins, staff and regular uses to interact. I decided that should change so I modeled this forum after it. I have imported some posts from an old admin forum I started called Forum Admins that never got off the ground because soon after I had health issues and didn't have time to dedicate to it. I did this to add some content. Welcome to Forum² - A Community for Forum Enthusiasts. I hope you enjoy your time here.
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Official site: Simple Machines Forum
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Link to the official xenForo site: xenForo
