Free Forum Hosting Without Ads

How Forums Work

Discussion forums have played a key role in establishing online community networks since they first appeared on the Web in the mid 1980s. Online forums are often referred to as message boards too, and provide central locations for members to discuss issues and share information quickly and easily. The term forum can also refer to a wide variety of other online tools including chat rooms and real-time video conferencing, but for this article the focus is on text-based group discussions. To take participate on these boards, forum members log in to access the message board whenever it is convenient. Once signed in, users can read messages posted since they last visited and respond with messages of their own.

Elements of a Successful Forum

Finding free forum hosting without ads is a great start, but there are other features that help build a successful online community. These include:

Unambiguous Purpose

Before you set up a forum, think it through. It's important to identify the forums purpose as you put together a community networking plan. This will include answers to questions like:

• Who do you expect to participate in the forum?
• Why will they participate?
• What is the purpose of the forum?

Clearly defining the purpose of your forum before participation is opened to the public will help it to succeed. In today's online communities there are thousands of forums available. A defined purpose offers users a specific reason to join. To find a purpose that will attract attention, look for a problem or need and brainstorm about how an online forum would best fill that need.

Experienced Moderators

A forum moderator works like the host or hostess of the online community. If you don't plan to do this yourself, it's important to find a person who stays active. They are responsible for:

• Setting the tone
• Establishing ground rules and making sure new members are aware of them as well
• Initiates discussion topics
• Encourages participation
• Does their best to ensure the forum serves its purpose

Once the moderator has build up participation and more members join, the moderator can sit back and enjoy themselves a little more. But it is still important for them to keep watch over what's being posted. Moderators have the authority to remove members from the forum if they break the rules.

Interested Community Members

You can't have a successful forum if you don't have members participating. Other than the equipment needed to get on line and the understanding of how forums work, potential members need both the time to participate and the motivation to participate. If members lose interest, the forum will most likely break down.

Most forums do take commitment and time. And interest in the subject alone does not guarantee participation. The membership must also be convinced that the message board has something of value to offer them. In many cases, users are allowed to add urls to their signature line, which provides valuable outreach within the social framework established through a forum. Participation has to give something back.

Software for Free Forum Hosting Without Ads

In the 1980s and first half of the 1990s, most community networks used bulletin board (BBS) software. This provided uncomplicated menus and plain, scrolling text. Today there are a variety of choices, and for the sake of this article we are going to list those that offer free forum hosting without the distraction of ads. The following resources should help you find the perfect software for your needs:

• Former
• Create Forum
• Invision Plus
• ForumHosting.com