What makes a good forum?!?

[CraftyCarper]

As above,What does make a good fishing forum?!?For ages I was contemplating building my own carp forum and finally took the plunge around 2 months back and still not launched it yet as I have been altering all the scripting and coding but surely it's not just about what it looks like,I have seen many forums and they all have a great members base I have also seen a few naff ones that has had no activity for months and months,what do people look for in a carp forum...Ok this is a bit of market research but i'm also curious as I would love to provide a carp forum that has a regional fisheries guide,tackle shop,illustrated rigs ect but I guess I have to begin somewhere,I also wanted to know how some of these sites manage to get inundated with visitors because I get really fed up with plugging not to mention that I think it's rude to post a link on other peoples sites,I know about submitting url to google and such like but any other tips would be great.

[redrost]

Having a decent set of unbiased mods who stick rigidly to the laid down rules, and do not abuse the forum for their own ends.

Swearing! These sites are visited by kids so we should all set a good example and not allow swearing in any shape or form.

[CraftyCarper]

Having a decent set of unbiased mods who stick rigidly to the laid down rules, and do not abuse the forum for their own ends.

Swearing! These sites are visited by kids so we should all set a good example and not allow swearing in any shape or form.

These are both good points especially the latter,these kids look up to us guys I guess for advice and inspiration so we really do have to set an example,good post redrost,as for mods,I dont have any as yet,I am the only staff on the board as I have not launched it yet but do intend to get a mod or 2 but decent ones that can put in the time and have some input to the content on the site.

[DanDanUK]

Having a decent set of unbiased mods who stick rigidly to the laid down rules, and do not abuse the forum for their own ends.

Swearing! These sites are visited by kids so we should all set a good example and not allow swearing in any shape or form.

Crafty you could always do what we have done on here, we add a word censor and alter swear words, and failing that open a members private forum where members must ask permission to join in and that way you can make sure you have NO kids reading the more adult (non sexual) discussions

[CraftyCarper]

Yes thats a great Idea,I added this a while ago,the swear filter that is,just need to activate it,I see you have google bots ect,do these help with traffic?if so how do I get these on to my forum?

[billy barbel]

I think having people like stotty and kev who are always posting tips and tactics in a non " i told you so way" is what people are looking for, i too visit a lot of forums to keep up to date with tackle and sometimes you may ask what seems a bit of a puzzle, but to others is simple basic knowledge and they can at times be very condesending with the i cant believe you didnt know that attitude, also i think what dan has done on here with the socials is a brilliant idea it keeps up the banter and lets us all have a damn good crack and blow off some steam and again the advice is invaluable to someone beginning, i often find especially with carp forums that some of the mebers think they are above the rest of the fishing fraternity, on this forum there are no strangers only friends you havent met yet so my advice is KEEP IT REAL.

[CraftyCarper]

I think having people like stotty and kev who are always posting tips and tactics in a non " i told you so way" is what people are looking for, i too visit a lot of forums to keep up to date with tackle and sometimes you may ask what seems a bit of a puzzle, but to others is simple basic knowledge and they can at times be very condesending with the i cant believe you didnt know that attitude, also i think what dan has done on here with the socials is a brilliant idea it keeps up the banter and lets us all have a damn good crack and blow off some steam and again the advice is invaluable to someone beginning, i often find especially with carp forums that some of the mebers think they are above the rest of the fishing fraternity, on this forum there are no strangers only friends you havent met yet so my advice is KEEP IT REAL.

That is some spot on info there billy and you got it in 1 about the carp forums thinking they are ahead of us all,I recently got ban from a norfolk carp forum just for having an opinion,this is another reason I would really love to get mine off the ground and get it active...fingers crossed.

[billy barbel]

Good luck with that project mate you will need it !!! let us all know the url and we can stop by and have a look although dont tell Dan

[CraftyCarper]

Rather than post a link I will enclose it in my signature and I promise not to poach.

[Badger]

Rather than post a link I will enclose it in my signature and I promise not to poach.

Poach away! And we will do the same.

[DanDanUK]

Rather than post a link I will enclose it in my signature and I promise not to poach.

Daz mate i'm all about creating community's you see i know members visit other forums i visit other forums i don't mind people adding other website to there sig's or even give one a quick mention by doing this it will encourage other members to visit there sites and visa versa and all leads to members visiting our forum and collecting members it's also a good way of cross examining information, most other forums don't like you to have other sites as sigs because there scared they will lose members to you, i believe if your sites good and always up to date and the members like it theres no reason to worrie about losing them, we only have 62 members on here at the moment and most a very active you'd think we'd have thousands of members the way they post just can't control them and most of them are TOP LADS!!!

[Stotty]

I think having people like stotty and kev who are always posting tips and tactics in a non " i told you so way" is what people are looking for, i too visit a lot of forums to keep up to date with tackle and sometimes you may ask what seems a bit of a puzzle, but to others is simple basic knowledge and they can at times be very condesending with the i cant believe you didnt know that attitude, also i think what dan has done on here with the socials is a brilliant idea it keeps up the banter and lets us all have a damn good crack and blow off some steam and again the advice is invaluable to someone beginning, i often find especially with carp forums that some of the mebers think they are above the rest of the fishing fraternity, on this forum there are no strangers only friends you havent met yet so my advice is KEEP IT REAL.

Hi praise indeed I see my self as an all round angler I can catch most things but I’m no expert I post a lot of things on Carp because that’s my thing. I have fished for them for a long time and like passing on stuff that has taken me years to learn and a hell of a lot of reading. Kevin (AKA tackle tart) and I had a discussion the other week saying that we could have given a body part for something like this forum when we started. Also I take my hat of to the other Mods, and most of all Dan who has turned a hobby that has blossomed in the last few years into a passion. To quote one of my companies favourite sayings THE BOTTOM LINE is we are all passionate about our fishing But we don’t take it that seriously that we can’t have a laugh at each other.

[redrost]

With regard to bad language the other thing that gets me is, s******g a nice easy way out.

If you want to keep continuity of threads dont allow members to delete posts, allow editing of course. I've seen whole sale slaughter where one member has deleted all his posts making what remains worthless.

[manxnorton]

some great sincere comments there.
as a beginner of a few months i can't believe only 62 members,i log as soon as i get to work (sneakily) look again at lunch,b4 knock off and i log on straight away when i get in from work.
the guys are great and the banter is great,not one condesending remark with my lack of knowledge and experience,i actually have not been on another forum i was on since Rod worriors and now this fine forum.
No matter my level of experience i can say at least i share one thing in common with everyone here
CRAFTY you fished Reepham Fisheries much? i've only once but i am going on sunday to try some sonubaits out. if so maybe ya can PM which is the ones worth keeping away from here in Norfolk..if theres any that is.
many thanks
brian

[billy barbel]

Sorry if i embarrased you paul, i just meant that some other people on other forums are very condasending at times lets keep up the good work on here and all have a laugh and take life just that little bit less seriously than other forums.