22 Comments on Why do some forums thrive and others just seem to wilt?

Ravi Kuwadia on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:12 pm


I guess it could one or multiple reason as you mention.

But I think you mention the most important reason yourself

You mentioned “Part of the fault is mine, because I really neglected it over much of the last couple of years when I wasn’t able to give it the attention it deserved”

I think that is the main reason. Not just communities – all estate online including blogs would die if not looked after.

Kudos to you to build other successful communities – I dont know if I could do that.
Ravi Kuwadia´s last blog ..Free Internet Basics Video Series

John Dilbeck on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 4:16 am


Good morning, Ravi.

Thanks for your comment and welcome to our discussions.

Yes, I neglected those two sites, but I only mean that I didn’t add new content on a continuing basis.

I still checked into the forum at least a couple of times per week, welcomed new members, participated in any new discussions, and made sure that it wasn’t being overtaken by spam.

I just don’t understand why it isn’t more popular, especially since it gets into things like goalsetting, overcoming obstacles, and achieving our dreams. I’m sure that just about anyone reading this post, especially if they’re blogging themselves and/or have a business with which they’re trying to succeed, would have some valuable thoughts to share in such a forum.

But, apparently, I’m wrong about that.

Act on your dream!

JD

Sire on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 5:31 am


I wonder if forums just are not as popular as they once used to be? Perhaps the advent of blogs has taken some of their customers. I know that the activity of some of the forums I am a member of seems to be slowing down, some to such an extent that the owners send out emails trying to get members back into the fold.
Sire´s last blog ..What Bloggers Do

Mitch on Wed, 26th Aug 2009 10:40 am


Both Ravi and you pretty much covered it, John. Topics will always bring people, but the host’s interaction and the like will keep them coming back.

Those two things, and then controversy. You know what I mean. If forums allow people to be, well, rude, they have more visitors. There’s this really weird thing about “hate” of any sort that just drives people. Notice on news sites that allow commentary the types of comments that are left. Overall I hate that, especially the anonymous ones (which is pretty much all of them, which means I hate them all lol).
Mitch´s last blog ..Take Responsibility For Your Blogging

John Dilbeck on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 5:25 am


Good morning, Sire,

You may be right about the popularity of forums decreasing.

Blogging may be partly responsible, but I’ve been wondering if maybe Facebook, Twitter, and other similar social networking sites may be the real reason.

I don’t know, but I thought I’d throw the question out there for smart folks like you to voice your opinions.

Thanks.

Act on your dream!

JD

John Dilbeck on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 5:31 am


Good morning, Mitch.

Yes, I’m probably the main reason the forum slowed and has almost died. But, if I had to do it all over again and choose caring for Mom or watching one of my favorite websites go downhill, I’d make the same choice. (sigh)

You’re also right about controversy. I’ve seen some of the newspaper sites and their “comments” and I’d rather have a dead forum than one that erupts in such rudeness. I don’t allow anonymous posts for that very reason.

Well, someone can make up a persona, but if they’re rude and make personal attacks, I’ll delete and block them as soon as I see it.

When I invite someone into my home via one of my websites, I expect a certain level of decorum and politeness. I’ll throw rude people out of my forums as fast as I’d throw them out of my house.

That’s a great point, and I appreciate you bringing it up.

Act on your dream!

JD

John Dilbeck on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 6:15 am


Good morning,

After posting my last two comments, I was checking my email and found an interesting post by Danny Brown on his blog: Is Twitter killing blog comments?

Are we seeing the evolution of online conversations going from newsgroups to forums to blogs to Twitter?

I don’t know, but it’s interesting to consider.

Act on your dream!

JD

Sire on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 6:21 am


If it was up to me John, I much prefer the interaction in forums as I find the information much more useful and I regard much of the stuff on Twitter useless babble.
Sire´s last blog ..Have The Gremlins Invaded Twitter?

Joan Adams on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 12:46 pm


I love goalsetting and that forum, John. I just wonder if the target audience has not found it yet?
Joan Adams´s last blog ..Updated with Music

Mitch on Thu, 27th Aug 2009 1:05 pm


I don’t think so, John. Since one supposed stat say that around 94% of people who join Twitter end up with fewer than 10 posts, those folks aren’t sticking around there, so they have to be doing elsewhere.
Mitch´s last blog ..Demand Studios

Trivia Girl on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 2:48 am


I think that part of the reason for lack of activity on your “A year from Now” forum is that it lacks very many posts and therefore does not seem like an active thriving community. My first thought when arriving (if I had not read this post) and seeing such low post numbers would be should I bother contributing. Will my post even be read?

Now, yes I know upon closer examination, all posts seem to be replied to in a timely fashion by you, but this is not apparent upon the first minute when someone visits the forum. Sometimes a minute is all you have.

~Jane

John Dilbeck on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 11:28 pm


Good evening, everyone.

Sire, I too enjoy interacting on forums and much prefer it to Twitter and Facebook. As you can tell from the length of many of my posts and comments, I like to go into some detail, not just skim the surface.

Joan, Setting and achieving goals has changed my life for the better in many ways. I enjoy talking about it and have plans for goalsetting to be a major part of both the AYearFromNow.com site and forum. There just isn’t enough hours in the day to get it all done, but I’m working on it. I would appreciate any discussions you’d care to start and/or reply to. I really like your Goalsetting with Pictures ebook and hope more people will find it and put it to use.

Mitch, I’m not sure if that statistic about Twitter is really applicable. I’m sure there are many more people who sign up for Twitter than there are those who sign up for forums, although I don’t have any proof of that assumption. I think we’re talking about two different groups of people. What do you think?

Act on your dream!

JD

Sire on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 11:34 pm


Hey John, I never thought of it that way. Man it must really cheese you off having to say what you have on your mind in under 160 characters
Sire´s last blog ..Blog Me This You Blogging Fools

Mitch on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 11:35 pm


Actually, I think we’re talking the same thing. For instance, when Sire first put up his forum, there were probably enough people who signed up to get things started. However, after a month, it was probably only him and I who were writing anything there. That’s how Twitter works also; tons of people sign up, but then they don’t participate. Same with forums, it seems.
Mitch´s last blog ..Dropped Guru

John Dilbeck on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 11:36 pm


Good evening, Jane.

Welcome to our discussions and thanks for your comment.

I think you’re right in your observation of the low number of posts and (seeming) lack of any conversations.

I think when I reply to a topic it leaves the forum looking like I’m the only one posting and who wants to join in when I’m just talking to myself?

The forum is getting several hundred unique visitors per month and the numbers tell me that some posts are being read hundreds of times.

Maybe I need to invite some people who may be interested to post a few comments there and not reply to them myself so that it won’t look like I’m the only one doing anything.

Do you have any suggestions for making it look more inviting and worth joining when someone drops by for that first minute or so?

Act on your dream!

JD

John Dilbeck on Fri, 28th Aug 2009 11:42 pm


Good evening, Mitch.

That’s a good example. Maybe they are the same group of people, after all.

I know that I sometimes sign up for something and then it falls off my “top of mind” consciousness and I just forget to go back.

For example, I love Lynn Terry’s forum, but I haven’t been there in several weeks. There were just too many other things that took precedence.

Perhaps I’m barking up the wrong tree and there really is no need for that forum.

One thing I don’t like about it is that the links are now nofollow, but I have no control over that. I’d change it if I could. Other than that, I’m very happy with the company that hosts it.

I’m not going to give up on it yet. I’ll probably give it the rest of the year to see if it starts growing, again.

Act on your dream!

JD

John Dilbeck on Sat, 29th Aug 2009 12:49 am


Good morning, Sire.

You’re right. I have a hard time dealing with so few characters when tweeting.

I tend to think in 140 words (or even paragraphs!) when I write, not characters.

Act on your dream!

JD

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach on Sat, 29th Aug 2009 8:52 am


You have a squidoo marketing forum? Do feel free to post that information over at my Income Fitness forums at http://www.virtual-coach.com/forums/forums.php – I have a category for Squidoo marketing and would happy to alert my community members to your site as well.

The more the merrier!
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach´s last blog ..Give BACK to Your Affiliates – Covert Angel Time

John Dilbeck on Sun, 30th Aug 2009 3:14 pm


Good afternoon, Barbara.

Thanks for the invitation. I just now registered at your forum and I’m looking around. I’ll post info on my Squidoo Marketing site in a few minutes.

Act on your dream!

JD

Apparel UK on Tue, 1st Sep 2009 3:09 am


You should keep in your mind that what your readers expect in your Forums and the stuff should be informative. because everyone search such thing to get information.

AC Contractors in Fort Worth TX on Tue, 1st Sep 2009 8:06 am


i think it takes a little bit of luck, it is hard to move a group of people to a new forum if yours is similar to another one. people don’t always love change.

MY Special Education on Thu, 3rd Sep 2009 10:33 am


Hi, This blog and forums is suffering from lack of members who STAY and Post in the Community.Is there a way for this site to get know, recognised as good and get a nice activity count with posting members? Thanks.