Customizing SMF > Building Your Community and other Forum Advice

Forum Business Strategy

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Mr. Peanut:
Dear All,

I recently built a forum for an island in Thailand. My strategy was to build a website listing bars, resorts, scuba shops and so on. Then ask the business owners to start posting and let it take off. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong, nothing is happening.

My site is www.funlanta.com, just click on "Forum".

Thanks,

P

ChalkCat:
My very first thoughts are:

The first page isn't very friendly or inviting with a lot of text.  I think maybe the map needs to be smaller and the test more spaced out.
You need to change the news item: "SMF - Just Installed!" won't mean anything to your readership.
To me, you have started off with too many boards - they look quite intimidating.  Reducing the number of boards, at least to start with, will also make the forum look busier, thereby encouraging your local businesses to take more of an interest.

I see you have listed some bars asking for the owners to contribute - have you tried approaching them in person and maybe having a few drinks in their establishment?

Also where are the photos?  Koh Lanta should be a beautiful place and some photographs will bring life to your site in many ways :)

Mr. Peanut:
Thanks, I will definitely make some changes to the home page with a few photos (I resisted that because that's what everyone else does).

As for the drinks. I will be doing nothing but that this summer when I am in Koh Lanta for two months.

Thanks for the feedback.

P

ChalkCat:
You're welcome, I hope I've been some help :)  I  do think your website is a really good idea and I hope it takes off :)

Old Fossil:
A few mods you may want to look into:

Bad behaviour (antispam)

Aevia Media ( gallery and video embed)

A better theme other than the default theme too.

Try not to concentrate on the bars/ clubs alone otherwise people will think nothing else happens there.

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