Are forums dead?

[parkerscott]

I went, and looked at some of the forums I went to when I was younger that were very active, and they are ghost towns now. However there are still forums that are going strong like bb.com,ign,and tff. Ive noticed the forums that are still doing well are very broad. For example ign is focused on all sorts of video games rather than just an xbox forum. Bodybuilding.com is focused on bodybuilding instead of something like a marathon running forum. tff is focused on entrepreneurship rather than an import/export forum or whatever niche you can pull from it.

These forums that were very niche are dead, and the broader ones are doing well. Are forums dead, and on their way out though? It seems like people are getting all the info they need from other people on social media, and message boards that have everything in one place like reddit.

Instead of people searching for info on their own they can now rely on mavins who will sift through all the clutter of information, and then update people on information that they deem inportant.

If this is the case then what is the future?

Im wanting to add a forum to my website that is very broad, but even then the forum could be on its way out.

Should I work on creating a forum, or do you think it would be more effective to create/curate content other people will share rather than relying on user generated content that forums are made up of?

 

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[Sunscreen]

Probably just on a reddit sub now

 

[luniac]

I went, and looked at some of the forums I went to when I was younger that were very active, and they are ghost towns now. However there are still forums that are going strong like bb.com,ign,and tff. Ive noticed the forums that are still doing well are very broad. For example ign is focused on all sorts of video games rather than just an xbox forum. Bodybuilding.com is focused on bodybuilding instead of something like a marathon running forum. tff is focused on entrepreneurship rather than an import/export forum or whatever niche you can pull from it.

These forums that were very niche are dead, and the broader ones are doing well. Are forums dead, and on their way out though? It seems like people are getting all the info they need from other people on social media, and message boards that have everything in one place like reddit.

Instead of people searching for info on their own they can now rely on mavins who will sift through all the clutter of information, and then update people on information that they deem inportant.

If this is the case then what is the future?

Im wanting to add a forum to my website that is very broad, but even then the forum could be on its way out.

Should I work on creating a forum, or do you think it would be more effective to create/curate content other people will share rather than relying on user generated content that forums are made up of?

Rename "thefastlaneforum" to "thefastlanelounge", problem solved!

 

[Mattie]

I think people like to shop in one place like a mall sometimes. You have many stores in once place. In forums you have the option to have many niches or categories or just one. It saves them time and energy. If information is all talked about in one place, why do they have to look else where. lol Although the side effect of this, is what if you're missing something important. What if it's not in this location. A bit of laziness and convenience.

 

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[smarty]

Are forums dead?

Not this one.

 

[NVious]

Yes and no.

As forums become more and more available, people disperse to different niches.

Glory years for forums were probably in the 06-12 days when there wasn't too many forums around, the rules were much laxer and posters were actually interested in posting online.

 

[parkerscott]

So im stuck at a crossroads here. I have the forum all set up, and its ready for content. Will having an empty forum as im starting leave a bad impression? Should I scrap the forum until I start getting traffic? Should I scrap the forum all together, and bring the conversation somewhere else?

 

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[Andy Black]

Do you already have a community, that already wants to communicate with each other, and that are already frustrated that they can't?

 

[Sehcill]

Moderation and policing is a huge part. I followed MJ from the Rich Dad forum to Lambo Power, then to here. LP was moderated wonderfully. He mentioned something about the RDPD forum a long time ago that was very apparent and what ruined the forum: sig pimps. Selling things thru your signature used to be a huge problem, and still can be without enforced rules in place.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Forums aren't dead because the human need to congregate and communicate with each other is not dead.

What's shifting is the methods in which we communicate. Forums based upon antiquated technology will struggle which is why I moved this place from vBulletin to Xenforo some years ago. As long as forum technology keeps current with user expectations, forums will be OK-- although yea, it definitely is a challenged space. Facebook and other social congregations have forum appeal, therefore, making more forums expendable.

what ruined the forum: sig pimps.

1) Sig-pimps.
2) Trolls (RD wasn't real!) Every damn day.
3) MLM everywhere.
4) "Email me I gotta great opportunity" every post.

 

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[IrishSpring600]

I went, and looked at some of the forums I went to when I was younger that were very active, and they are ghost towns now.

Shit, you may be on to something!

However there are still forums that are going strong like bb.com,ign,and tff.

Stopped reading here.

 

[IrishSpring600]

Should I work on creating a forum, or do you think it would be more effective to create/curate content other people will share rather than relying on user generated content that forums are made up of?

I kept reading just because you may actually have a legit question -- and you do.

Just try not to contradict yourself so early next time.

You should create a forum because you think it will help others. If you don't see the vision then it won't work. What would be your plan for creating a forum, anyway?

 

[parkerscott]

Forums aren't dead because the human need to congregate and communicate with each other is not dead.

What's shifting is the methods in which we communicate. Forums based upon antiquated technology will struggle which is why I moved this place from vBulletin to Xenforo some years ago. As long as forum technology keeps current with user expectations, forums will be OK-- although yea, it definitely is a challenged space. Facebook and other social congregations have forum appeal, therefore, making more forums expendable.



1) Sig-pimps.
2) Trolls (RD wasn't real!) Every damn day.
3) MLM everywhere.
4) "Email me I gotta great opportunity" every post.

The environment certainly has changed over time.

Do you already have a community, that already wants to communicate with each other, and that are already frustrated that they can't?

My market is very communal. I would't say they are frustrated exactly though. The forum isn't a necessity, but I would like to have it to keep people connected.

I kept reading just because you may actually have a legit question -- and you do.

Just try not to contradict yourself so early next time.

You should create a forum because you think it will help others. If you don't see the vision then it won't work. What would be your plan for creating a forum, anyway?

I can see it helping others. I see people trying to communicate with other people on apps like instagram and sometimes their voice isnt heard. The plan for the forum is basically just to have a community where people will have a voice because the site is very community driven in theory.

 

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[IrishSpring600]

sometimes their voice isnt heard.

That's because their voice isn't relevant. What's so relevant about a comment on a picture, anyway - do you expect a debate to occur there? That's just off.

Big forums such as forum.bodybuilding.com and thefastlaneforum.com are great. But they didn't start with 3k people. Let's take it step by step now. What's your plan?

 

[tbfmiss]

I went, and looked at some of the forums I went to when I was younger that were very active, and they are ghost towns now. However there are still forums that are going strong like bb.com,ign,and tff. Ive noticed the forums that are still doing well are very broad. For example ign is focused on all sorts of video games rather than just an xbox forum. Bodybuilding.com is focused on bodybuilding instead of something like a marathon running forum. tff is focused on entrepreneurship rather than an import/export forum or whatever niche you can pull from it.

These forums that were very niche are dead, and the broader ones are doing well. Are forums dead, and on their way out though? It seems like people are getting all the info they need from other people on social media, and message boards that have everything in one place like reddit.

Instead of people searching for info on their own they can now rely on mavins who will sift through all the clutter of information, and then update people on information that they deem inportant.

If this is the case then what is the future?

Im wanting to add a forum to my website that is very broad, but even then the forum could be on its way out.

Should I work on creating a forum, or do you think it would be more effective to create/curate content other people will share rather than relying on user generated content that forums are made up of?

Are they dead? Simply put no. Are they as popular as they were say, 10-15 years ago? no.

 

[CommonCents]

Starting a forum must be like the first person to get a fax machine.

I find great value in them for a few topics of interest. Smart moderation is important to keep them from getting spammed and diluted with moronism.

I'll probably be starting one in the near future for a niche product category, but I have 5,000 organic mailing list that should be able to kick it off and establish some critical mass. Otherwise I'd wait.

Who likes going to an empty club with no line outside?

 

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