forum as a business "2"

[CD Burnt]

has anyone started a forum with the purpose of running it as a business...... just the forum? not a forum that's used to support a webhosting business or any other business. Income expected from the forum ONLY.

so, let's discuss the ways to do it; the problems and the solutions; what can succeed; what is hard/what is easy.

[SoftWareRevue]

Although I've never started a forum to earn monies off it, I imagine there are many communities that sprang forth with income as the, or an, underlying aspect.

I think, if I were to start a forum for the purpose of producing income, I'd want to begin with a subject matter that could fuel that. Whether it be through advertising income, sales from products or services, or paid subscriptions.

So, I'd have to consider what I know.

/me goes off to study the mirror.

Okay. I've decided to start a forum that discusses the craft of making jewelry. Because now I have different modes of generating income.

I can have advertisements targeted at jewelry makers and buyers. Or I can open a store and offer the products.

I can have a paid subscription area that will include forums with secrets, tips, and deals.

Now; what are the problems that can arrise?

Well, first and foremost, I know nothing about jewelry. :D

But I can learn!

I don't think it would be hard to drive traffic. Some well placed advertising here and there.

I am sure that I could begin this project today and break even in 6-9 months, with greater profits after that.

Of course, that's just my quick assessment. And I could be wrong. But, I believe if you put enough money into a community with the focus on gaining a return from your investment, it really shouldn't be too hard.

You just need to have a product that people will buy.



You were likely looking for people that have direct experience with this model. But, I thought I'd share my fictitious project, because that's all I have. Feel free to toss some roadblocks up. :)

[CD Burnt]

"Or I can open a store and offer the products." nope! too easy. ;)


what kind of traffic would be needed before advertisers would pay for banners?

What about competition? would you pick a topic that "needs" a new forum? would you let it grow without ads on it, then put ads on after traffic builds?

[SoftWareRevue]

nope! too easy
Too easy? But I started the forum to make money. I'm targeting people that use products. Sure, they're coming for information. But, they have need for some product.

Maybe I'll just have the dennistalksjewelry site prominently link to jewelrysuppliesbydennis. :p

what kind of traffic would be needed before advertisers would pay for banners?
Of course paid advertisers need to see some traffic before commiting to campaigns.

What about competition?
Competition? I couldn't find any. That's why I chose the making jewelry model.

would you pick a topic that "needs" a new forum?
See above

would you let it grow without ads on it, then put ads on after traffic builds?
I would invest in advertising. Google key words. Any jewelry sites that seemed promising. I'd advertise the site, build traffic, gain advertisers, turn advertisers away, wear out my shoes going to the bank. :cool:

[CD Burnt]

problems with selling goods/services to the forum traffic: advertisers are reluctant to pay their competition; members feel reluctant to recommend another store, or feel pressure to say good things because the store pays the forum bills; some people don't like "company brand" forums.

besides, it's against the OP's stated scenario! don't make me edit my thread this time. ;)

[SoftWareRevue]

But, if the store is a part of the forum. There are those models out there; ya know.

Okay. If you want to disallow us the right to use a store on the forum, I'll just link to it. :p And I won't even make it prominent! :angel:

Now let's wait to see if anyone has any practical experience with this. :)

I'd be interested in hearing from someone that's done this.

[Aussie Bob]

has anyone started a forum with the purpose of running it as a business...... just the forum?
Hmmm, interesting you should mention this. I was just discussing this very thing with a friend today, as they popped by the house. My idea was a local buy/sell/swap site, promoted through local media (TV and radio), built using a forum, with catagories for different items etc.

Folks sign up, say they have something to buy/sell/swap, and folks can either respond to their post, or contact them direct.

That's using the forum model to faciliate buying/selling/swapping. I think something like that, properly promoted, could work very well locally. Your market is local and your promotion is local. It's the perfect example of using the internet to faciliate local business, and it's basically a forum. :)

[writespeak]

Is HowardForums.com (http://www.howardforums.com/index.php?) an example of what you're asking about? I'm not connected with it other than joining it a few weeks ago, but I got a lot of useful information there. It appears to be run as a business, but I don't know its history.

Lois

[A_Jelly_Doughnut]

Aussie, someone tried that in my locality...didn't last a month.

[Aussie Bob]

Aussie, someone tried that in my locality...didn't last a month.
Crikey. They quit so quick, after just one month? :eek2:

Something like that would take 6 to 12mths of promotion before it got traction. You have to build the brand, and then the people come, or hopefully they come. :)

[Doug]

That forum is gigantic. It makes WHT look small. :P Takes forever to load though. I would say some people setup forums with an intent to run it just like a business.

[A_Jelly_Doughnut]

Crikey. They quit so quick, after just one month? :eek2:
I know...and they ran it with phpNuke too.

Didn't do much in the way of self promotion either -- I heard a radio spot or two (on a station to which very few people listen), nothing in the newspaper.