How do you keep your forum active?

[Holger]

We are running our forum since 2003 ... still 10K posts every month. Most people do not like FB and Instagram.

[incredibleasia]

Did you add some features to your forum to keep it active? Our forum exists from 2005 and most of the members prefer Instagram now or FB groups, they find it more comfortable and fast since most of them are using mobile phones. They even ask me to move our forum there but I find it not a good idea.

[Holger]

FB has a big disadvantage in finding information. FB Groups are not visible in Google Searchresults, so your "forum" on FB will slowly die as nobody finds the information without being a member in the FB group.
This is an absolute no-go for me.
Furthermore, as far as I have seen (I am not on FB myself), the "topics and posts" are not sorted and are very confusing.
It is not possible to have structured discussions.

Yes, we have added a LOT of features to our forums, we have listened to our members needs. Most of the features added are custom programmed.
We have mainly tried to make it easier for everyone to use the forums, created "shortcuts" and made it as easy as possbile to upload photos for example. My community absolutely thrives based on photos.

As of today we have 105K members and 1.2 million posts.
2.1 million page views(?) and 200K unique visitors every month.

[warmweer]

Did you add some features to your forum to keep it active? Our forum exists from 2005 and most of the members prefer Instagram now or FB groups, they find it more comfortable and fast since most of them are using mobile phones. They even ask me to move our forum there but I find it not a good idea.

It's probably a sign that those users are not forummers and prefer short (instant) reactions. Not the kind who participate in several lengthy discussions at the same time (or the subject of your board doesn't lend itself to long (and deep?) discussions.

[Davey123]

We are running our forum since 2003 ... still 10K posts every month. Most people do not like FB and Instagram.

Wow, incredible, well done. What's the URL please?

[erelash_mf]

We are running our forum since 2003 ... still 10K posts every month. Most people do not like FB and Instagram.

Wow, incredible, well done. What's the URL please?

Woow, URL please?

[incredibleasia]

FB has a big disadvantage in finding information. FB Groups are not visible in Google Searchresults, so your "forum" on FB will slowly die as nobody finds the information without being a member in the FB group.
This is an absolute no-go for me.
Furthermore, as far as I have seen (I am not on FB myself), the "topics and posts" are not sorted and are very confusing.
It is not possible to have structured discussions.

I agree with you completely, you can't sort posts on FB and it is so difficult to find something and moreover there are only few active groups. Somehow people prefer FB and Instagram now-a-days, they don't understand that forums are much safer and easy to use. I also added many important changes on the forum during last year, like direct image upload, it is comfortable to use for mobile users although they ask me to add a proper mobile version but it be honest it is not really needed. Still my forum is not the same as it used to be many years ago.

[incredibleasia]

Did you add some features to your forum to keep it active? Our forum exists from 2005 and most of the members prefer Instagram now or FB groups, they find it more comfortable and fast since most of them are using mobile phones. They even ask me to move our forum there but I find it not a good idea.

It's probably a sign that those users are not forummers and prefer short (instant) reactions. Not the kind who participate in several lengthy discussions at the same time (or the subject of your board doesn't lend itself to long (and deep?) discussions.

I wouldn't say that and how you will explain that a few years ago my forum was really active and the same users were writing a lot but when Instagram was introduced to everyone most of the members moved there or to FB groups.

[Davey123]

We are running our forum since 2003 ... still 10K posts every month. Most people do not like FB and Instagram.

Hi Holger, wow, incredible, well done. What's the URL please?

[warmweer]

I wouldn't say that and how you will explain that a few years ago my forum was really active and the same users were writing a lot but when Instagram was introduced to everyone most of the members moved there or to FB groups.

Well, apparently they think FB or instagram is more interesting to them. Frankly (personal opinion), if that is the case, they're probably not the users suited to your board (its subject).

[incredibleasia]

I wouldn't say that and how you will explain that a few years ago my forum was really active and the same users were writing a lot but when Instagram was introduced to everyone most of the members moved there or to FB groups.

Well, apparently they think FB or instagram is more interesting to them. Frankly (personal opinion), if that is the case, they're probably not the users suited to your board (its subject).

Our forum has a specific subject and not everyone can fit but these people were perfect users but they use Instagram to become popular and earn money I guess, you can't do it on the forum.

[Lumpy Burgertushie]

maybe you could figure out how to make your forum give them what they find more interesting at those other platforms?


roberty

[incredibleasia]

I can't make Instagram or FB group out of my forum and I don't want to. I know that they like it because it is faster, you can access from the phone. you can upload videos and the most important you can become popular and earn money. Also you get instant replies there what you don't get on the forums.

[warmweer]

Socials are for immediate messaging (although it also has its use in sharing photos)
FB (as an example) provides a very good means of social communication within a group, and this really shows in times of corona.

What concerns me the most is that that the social media are becoming the standard for communication among the younger generation - and even in politics. People seem to have the urgency to show that they are "there" or "here", and that they are "active". The term "friends" has become a container for ... well basically just about anyone and has lost the original linguistic meaning of "friend".

There not much value in comparing forums (as we know them) with FB. They target different groups.

[Holger]

... and even in politics.

^this
It is disturbing that politicians and officials (police, fire-departments, ...) post on Twitter and Facebook.