Running too many?

Truestar · Moderator

Hi everyone,

I've noticed lately that I have no users to my site. I have tried affiliations and it's only brought one user and he doesn't even post. I looked at other issues and I noticed: I'm starting off too big.

I have so many ideas, and before I plan I just launch. This gives me a difficult time to focus developing other areas of my site.

What would you do if you have many ideas, but you realize you need to focus on one or else you'll get nowhere fast? Partner administrators could help with design, is this an appropriate approach?

Thanks,
Truestar
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Ex0dus · Posted: 4/29/2006, 11:48 am Post subject:

Im kinda like that, I get huge moments of inspiration and i act on them before i fully plan it all out.

Thus I kind of need a big staff to help me carry the load. In order for your staff to be of use though they need to be as dedicated to your cause as you, as nothing is more annoying in a situation like that than a staff member that is also too busy to give the help you need.

If you cant get staff though, just start to prioritize and let your users know what you are up to. Its a slow process but it can work out if your pace yourself correctly.

-Ex0dus
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~HG~ · Posted: 4/29/2006, 5:50 pm Post subject:

I work the same way Truestar by launching the forum before it is really ready and slowly build it up from there.

You cant really have it sit on a server for months while you are setting it up the way you want it because really that is a waste of money and your time.

As you build/change things, you can slowly invite others to join and ask for their opinions/help in any field they may be proficient in and in time your community will grow.
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Nick · Posted: 4/29/2006, 6:23 pm Post subject:

I think you have to have patience above all else, as well as a good subject matter on which your discussion will be based. For your social studies forum, I'd say you really need to have patience and get your name around. I doubt too many people are out there looking for or interested in a social studies forum to join. No matter how well put together a site is, no one will post unless they identify with the subject well enough.

I know exactly what you all mean about opening a board up before you've planned it all out. There's this one forum I've had in the mental works for a while, got it installed and slightly customized last week, and now it's just sitting there - with members registered - basically locked up until I get the sections all set. I just left an announcement telling those who joined that I'd e-mail them when the place is ready.
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Truestar · Moderator

Thanks.

I've thought about everything and have decided.

I am going to stop my other board, basically because there are enough good ones about it and focus my attention on this new one.

In the car ride to shopping (Florida trip coming) I wrote 3 pages of forum stuff and content stuff that I want on my next forum. I also thought of 16 topics to start right off the bat.

Hopefully, I can get someone who's good with templates to help me build one. Laughing

Thanks for the opinions. Smile

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Nick · Posted: 4/30/2006, 9:40 am Post subject:

Which board are you stopping? What's the topic of the new one?
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Truestar · Moderator

I'll be stopping the Need for Speed one and starrting a Ghost Recon one.

There are no truly good Ghost Recon sites out there other than the official one which is lacking things in itself. So I figured I should take a shot, being a big fan. Smile

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Nick · Posted: 4/30/2006, 8:12 pm Post subject:

That's a great idea - I've had decent success by starting a forum like your Ghost Recon forum because it hadn't been done before. There are only 27 members (and 10 or so active ones) but the activity level way outdoes my main forum (100 legitimate members). The Shannara forum always has half a gig more bandwidth than Bobsnox and it's been around about a quarter of the time. I installed a hit counter on it about two months ago (three months or so after the one I installed on Bobsnox) and they're now within 2000 hits of each other (somewhere around 95000). I think your Ghost Recon idea will work.
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Toucan42 · Posted: 5/22/2006, 12:42 am Post subject:

I also do this but most of my sites are not forums. I own two sites with forum sub-components and just bought a vBulletin license and am looking for a host for my first forum-only site.

The key is to make sure that while you are having incredible moments of energy and ideas that you write them down. I keep multiple whiteboards in my office and so my ideas from brainstorming sessions are always surrounding me.

I own 33 domains of which I have managed to develop so far only 7. That doesn't mean I don't have ideas for the others, it only means like you have pointed out there is only so much time in a day.

I think it is important to consider that if you launch early is it really going to negatively impact anyone? If you have early adopters they will be happy to see your site growing and changing for the most part. I like to believe that unless you are incapable of keeping up with a pace of new content additions and feature upgrades that there is no such thing as too early. ( Well... maybe super bug-ridden Alpha is too early )
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Mercury · Posted: 5/23/2006, 10:16 pm Post subject:

I stick to one forum, and one forum by which focus my promotional efforts. I remain steady and undeterred knowing that slouching occurs in activity, but that you can rebound it. Just remain patient, passionate, and stick to the game plan (I've posted about posting new and interesting content on a regular basis and all the other perks that keep members interested and make them dedicated. Even if some such members do not visit often, if they come by every few weeks or months and keep doing so, even that's an accomplishment to be proud of).
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