How to start a Discussion Forum from scrath

[Gaurish]

Hi,
I know there are many people here you are running their own successful forum.
Can anyone guide how to i start a new forum from a scratch.

*I have registered Domain
*Got hosting services
* Install Forum software and created forum categories

now how to put this new forum to life.I need information/Guidance on


*SEO methods/techniques
*where to get initial thread/posts
*new members & traffic

[Ceres]

Originally Posted by Gaurish

I need information/Guidance on

*SEO methods/techniques

You can make the forum urls SEO friendly. If you're using vBulletin, you can try vBSEO. Other forum software will likely have similar plugins.

Originally Posted by Gaurish

*where to get initial thread/posts

Does your forum focus on a particular niche? I think this will increase your chances of succeeding with your forum (it's not easy to run a forum). You can browse news and blogs sites etc within the same industry for ideas for forum posts. You can also post answers to FAQs relating to the industry you're focusing on.

Originally Posted by Gaurish

**new members & traffic

I think it boils down to promoting your forum. Here are some promotion tips by SEO Refugee.

Gaurish, good luck with your forum!

[Gaurish]

thanks for the tips!
Now how do i do back linking and promotion in such a way people don't treat it as spam?
Please suggest few techniques to get backlinks

[Gaurish]

Also, how long does it take on a Average for a forum to get on Auto pilot mode i.e admin only looks after site issues and content comes on its own!

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Gaurish

thanks for the tips!
Now how do i do back linking and promotion in such a way people don't treat it as spam?
Please suggest few techniques to get backlinks

Directory submissions, article directories, signatures on other forums are some of the easiest ways.

[Gaurish]

I know Directory & signatures method
But don't know article directories, Please shed some light on this topic.


Also, are there any good vbulletin alternatives, which aren't paid. I tried mybb. it seems good, any view on this?

[Jeff]

Here's a good article about marketing with article directories:
Bum Marketing Tips, Article Submission Tips | Earn Money Online

vBulletin is really head and shoulders above the others and if you can afford it I would recommend it.

Otherwise, I've heard good things about Simple Machines Forums:
Home of SMF: Free PHP and MySQL forum software

[Gaurish]

Thanks, will look into it.

I read many threads and i found that most board admins create 25-50 fake user ids to which ask question and admin replies.

what do you say on this?

[Ceres]

Originally Posted by Gaurish

Thanks, will look into it.

I read many threads and i found that most board admins create 25-50 fake user ids to which ask question and admin replies.

what do you say on this?

I really don't like this idea because well....it's all fake.

[RaghavK]

I think it does happen..however not everyone resorts to it..