What to Do?

[ilikepie2]

Decisions decisions. I am having a difficult time on what to do with the forum I have now which is on Proboards. I need to move because I am not getting any traffic and it is just not a user friendly board. I have spent a week looking at different software and reviewing different hosts, visiting different boards etc. I'm still stuck. I have been thinking of going with SMF and then later on when the board becomes popular and active then graduate to VB. My problem is what do I look for in a host. I don't understand bandwidth, mg, gb etc.:nuts:

[Scott]

OK, crash course forum host requirements for a newish board...

100MB file storage I think is safe, plenty for the software and then room to expand.
At least 2GB bandwidth per month, but try and find a host which has the option of letting you buy more should you need it. Bandwidth is "the amount of information downloadable from the webserver over a prescribed period of time." (Wikipedia). Every file a user views on your website requires them to grab it from the server, this takes up your bandwidth. The number you'll see web hosts quoting is the limit per month (usually) that you're limited to on that package.
PHP - This is the language which allows the boards to run. There are other options but PHP is the most common. Make sure the version is above 4.3. Version 5 is the latest.
Mysql Databases (at least 1) - This is where the forum's data will be stored. Again, there are other types, but you're better of with Mysql. Above version 4 and you should be safe.

Pretty much anything else is an extra. You'll want a decent control panel to manage all of this, and I recommend cPanel.

Hope that's helped. Tried to make it simple, but not sure I've done a great job of it. Let me know if you want anything explained :)

[BOLT]

Off topic: ilikepie, what is your forum going to be about? I am going to start a weightlifting forum in a couple, few weeks.

Sorry I cant answer your question, as I know nothing about computers, but Scott is a pretty sharp guy ;) :thewave:

[ilikepie2]

Thanks so much. You did a great job explaining it. I have 131 members and to date we have 17,635 posts. We post alot of pics and that does use up space. I was approached several times through pm's on a webhosting site, and I new that they wanted me to use their hosting company but could not ask due to the sites policy. What about new hosts just starting out, or should I be looking for one that has been around awhile?
Concerning the cpanel, I'm confused because someone told me cpanels don't have much of an impact?

[ilikepie2]

Off topic: ilikepie, what is your forum going to be about? I am going to start a weightlifting forum in a couple, few weeks.

Sorry I cant answer your question, as I know nothing about computers, but Scott is a pretty sharp guy ;) :thewave:

Hey Bolt, you might laugh when I tell you what my site is about. Are you ready? Makeup,skicare,hair,etc.
I'll put up the link in my sig so you can check it out. Makeup forums are very popular and very active. I am the admin of course. lol Tell me what you think of the site ok? Appreciate any constructive criticism.;)

[ilikepie2]

Ok you can check out the site, sig should be viewable.

[Scott]

Thanks so much. You did a great job explaining it. I have 131 members and to date we have 17,635 posts. We post alot of pics and that does use up space. I was approached several times through pm's on a webhosting site, and I new that they wanted me to use their hosting company but could not ask due to the sites policy. What about new hosts just starting out, or should I be looking for one that has been around awhile?
Concerning the cpanel, I'm confused because someone told me cpanels don't have much of an impact?

Unfortunately, you will loose those posts/members if you move and will need to get them to re-register. Are you aware of this?

I wouldn't go with a host under a year old, and the more the merrier. Small hosts are likely to give you a bargin though, and everyone needs to start at some point.

cPanel is a control panel which lets you manage pretty much everything from databases, emails and anything else your forum offers you. Your host will need to offer you something of the sort and cPanel is one of the more common and simple to use ones.

[ilikepie2]

Yes I am aware I will lose everything. Which stinks big time. There are so many great pics and posts on there.
I was offered a super deal of only $5 a month for hosting with unlimited storagespace/bandwidth. But I am just leary of it being so new.
Is SMF a relatively simple board to figure out?

[Scott]

Humm, that's a lot to offer for only $5 a month, I would be put off by it.

If you're used to ProBoards, you shouldn't find SMF too difficult to use.

[ilikepie2]

I think this host was personally trying to help me out. Either that or hit on me! LOL But that is ok I am still looking and will put this one on the back burner for now.
Scott I can see you are a busy guy here. Thanks for your help.

[Scott]

Scott I can see you are a busy guy here. Thanks for your help.
I like to stay busy :D

And your welcome :) Feel free to throw some more questions out if you get stuck.

[BOLT]

Hey Bolt, you might laugh when I tell you what my site is about. Are you ready? Makeup,skicare,hair,etc.
I'll put up the link in my sig so you can check it out. Makeup forums are very popular and very active. I am the admin of course. lol Tell me what you think of the site ok? Appreciate any constructive criticism.;)

Cool, yeah I can see how that is a topic of interest for many... haha.

IF I had to give one suggestion for your site it would be to make fewer sections. What I have found is that if you have fewer, more general sections that are more popular, people will be more prone to want to become a part of it.

For example, I have 5 sections total: Training Programs, Nutrition, Fat Loss, Sports Training, and Steroids. And generally speaking, people who join will find their niches and stick to 2 or 3 sections, but post frequently in them.

So just my suggestion. I think there is a subconscience idea that pops up in peoples' minds when they see a bunch of sections where the last post has occured a few months ago, that the forum itself is not popular.

Good luck though regardless.

[ilikepie2]

Cool, yeah I can see how that is a topic of interest for many... haha.

IF I had to give one suggestion for your site it would be to make fewer sections. What I have found is that if you have fewer, more general sections that are more popular, people will be more prone to want to become a part of it.

For example, I have 5 sections total: Training Programs, Nutrition, Fat Loss, Sports Training, and Steroids. And generally speaking, people who join will find their niches and stick to 2 or 3 sections, but post frequently in them.

So just my suggestion. I think there is a subconscience idea that pops up in peoples' minds when they see a bunch of sections where the last post has occured a few months ago, that the forum itself is not popular.

Good luck though regardless.

You are so right Bolt! I do agree with you. When I move to a new board I will definitely have fewer sections. Thanks for your input. BTW what is your sites url. I would love to check it out. How are you doing with it so far? Is VBulletin difficult to figure out?

[BOLT]

You are so right Bolt! I do agree with you. When I move to a new board I will definitely have fewer sections. Thanks for your input. BTW what is your sites url. I would love to check it out. How are you doing with it so far? Is VBulletin difficult to figure out?

I have not started this one in particular yet. I think I will name it BOLTtraining or BOLTlifting or something along those lines. I'm having to pull $200 out of my butt to get it started :rolleyes:

One forum that I have been around with for a while is bodybuilding.com, which is now probably among the biggest forums out there. Ironaddicts.com is another good one. But I've always wanted to start one of my own...

[Minarette]

I was offered a super deal of only $5 a month for hosting with unlimited storagespace/bandwidth. But I am just leary of it being so new.
Is SMF a relatively simple board to figure out?

I think this host was personally trying to help me out. Either that or hit on me!
If you have a sucessful forum, I would go with an established host and expect to pay more than that "super deal", chances are that host won't be around in another two months. Just trying to make a quick buck or three to pay for this month's server costs :D