Do you own a local area forum?

**Chris Suyeda** · 01-23-2008, 09:01 PM

I plan on launching a local area forum sometime in April. I've already started to write up articles that pertain to the area, but I have a few questions about how you (if you have your own local area forum) went about launching/running your community.

- What kind of launching content did you create in order for a successful start?
- What kind of revenue can be made from running a local area forum?
- What kind of troubles did you have to overcome?
- What have you done to protect user's privacy and prevent online predators and/or trolls attacking other users online/in the real world?
- Who is your target audience?

Also, if you were a member to a local area forum (but not running it), what kind of content would YOU like to see?

And yes, I understand that giving said information may cripple your chances of standing out from other local communities, but without being too specific I'd appreciate the information.

**Jolteon** · 01-23-2008, 09:48 PM

How "local" would you be?
Local to a city, to a state, or to a country?

**Chris Suyeda** · 01-23-2008, 09:54 PM

Local to a city, but any of those would really work considering the topics would be somewhat similar.

I was thinking about creating a community based on an area code instead of a single city seeing as how it has more room to grow, but I decided to go with a specific city (the city I have been living in for the past twenty years).

**dually** · 01-24-2008, 12:20 AM

I run a local forum called Northeast Florida Camping Club. The forum has been open for about 6 months. When the forum was started Myself and some friends just started making posts about our camping trips and inviting others to join us. I did not start the forum to make a profit but I use a company that I own to sponsor the site and I am the only advertiser that members see once logged in. I do have google adsense showing on the site for non registered guest.

As far as security I am not sure there is much you can do on these forums other than to be villigant about monitoring the posts. I also suggest to members not to give out any personal information on the site.

My target members are simply individuals and families that camp in either an RV or a tent. We have 104 members at present which I think is pretty good considering our narrow focus.

I have used craigslist and other camping forums to recruit members as well as personal contacts at campgrounds and camping shows. I also had vinyl window signs made for the campers and cars, as well as shirts hats etc. to advertise the site.

If I can add 100 members every 6 months then I will be very happy. By the way we encourage our members to camp together as a group. I have made allot of great friendships already because of the site and look forward to many more.

**Caddyman** · 01-24-2008, 12:41 AM

I run a few local forums

they are in my sig

- What kind of launching content did you create in order for a successful start?

None, i put the forum up, skinned it, modded it, and let'r rip. Now i had my family and friends up 10 total, probably 5 really help me to start fill it up and i left it with just a few sections to make it look like the posting was denser. as it grew i added sections and moved threads

DE site is about a year old now
PA site is about 7 months
NJ site is like a 2 weeks old

- What kind of revenue can be made from running a local area forum?

I make around 200-300 a month not counting donations just on the DE site. Donations can be anywhere from 0-150 a month

- What kind of troubles did you have to overcome?

None really, other then just normal time to oversee it and watch it grow and normal troubles with rowdy members sometimes. overall i have been very blessed with both great members and staff

- What have you done to protect user's privacy and prevent online predators and/or trolls attacking other users online/in the real world?

I worried about this too cause it's local, but people know not to give out personal info, and its in the rules, i only ever had to edit maybe 1 post where someone posted too much of their info

- Who is your target audience?

Anyone from DE, PA or NJ

**Chris Suyeda** · 01-24-2008, 09:53 PM

Wow, thanks for the replies. I posted a similar thread to this at a number of forums and haven't received much, if any, feedback at all.

Thanks for the good read. I've learned quite a bit from your replies and browsing your Delaware community.

I wish you both the best of luck with your local based communities.

01-23-2008, 09:01 PM	#1
Chris Suyeda Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 105	Do you own a local area forum? I plan on launching a local area forum sometime in April. I've already started to write up articles that pertain to the area, but I have a few questions about how you (if you have your own local area forum) went about launching/running your community. - What kind of launching content did you create in order for a successful start? - What kind of revenue can be made from running a local area forum? - What kind of troubles did you have to overcome? - What have you done to protect user's privacy and prevent online predators and/or trolls attacking other users online/in the real world? - Who is your target audience? Also, if you were a member to a local area forum (but not running it), what kind of content would YOU like to see? And yes, I understand that giving said information may cripple your chances of standing out from other local communities, but without being too specific I'd appreciate the information.

01-23-2008, 09:48 PM	#2
Jolteon Forum Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Holmfirth, England Posts: 3,699	How "local" would you be? Local to a city, to a state, or to a country? __________________ Ack, no currently active projects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-24-2008, 12:41 AM	#5
Caddyman Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,342	I run a few local forums they are in my sig - What kind of launching content did you create in order for a successful start? None, i put the forum up, skinned it, modded it, and let'r rip. Now i had my family and friends up 10 total, probably 5 really help me to start fill it up and i left it with just a few sections to make it look like the posting was denser. as it grew i added sections and moved threads DE site is about a year old now PA site is about 7 months NJ site is like a 2 weeks old - What kind of revenue can be made from running a local area forum? I make around 200-300 a month not counting donations just on the DE site. Donations can be anywhere from 0-150 a month - What kind of troubles did you have to overcome? None really, other then just normal time to oversee it and watch it grow and normal troubles with rowdy members sometimes. overall i have been very blessed with both great members and staff - What have you done to protect user's privacy and prevent online predators and/or trolls attacking other users online/in the real world? I worried about this too cause it's local, but people know not to give out personal info, and its in the rules, i only ever had to edit maybe 1 post where someone posted too much of their info - Who is your target audience? Anyone from DE, PA or NJ __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. boomshockalacka

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01-23-2008, 09:54 PM	#3
Chris Suyeda Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 105	Local to a city, but any of those would really work considering the topics would be somewhat similar. I was thinking about creating a community based on an area code instead of a single city seeing as how it has more room to grow, but I decided to go with a specific city (the city I have been living in for the past twenty years).

01-24-2008, 12:20 AM	#4
dually Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 21	I run a local forum called Northeast Florida Camping Club. The forum has been open for about 6 months. When the forum was started Myself and some friends just started making posts about our camping trips and inviting others to join us. I did not start the forum to make a profit but I use a company that I own to sponsor the site and I am the only advertiser that members see once logged in. I do have google adsense showing on the site for non registered guest. As far as security I am not sure there is much you can do on these forums other than to be villigant about monitoring the posts. I also suggest to members not to give out any personal information on the site. My target members are simply individuals and families that camp in either an RV or a tent. We have 104 members at present which I think is pretty good considering our narrow focus. I have used craigslist and other camping forums to recruit members as well as personal contacts at campgrounds and camping shows. I also had vinyl window signs made for the campers and cars, as well as shirts hats etc. to advertise the site. If I can add 100 members every 6 months then I will be very happy. By the way we encourage our members to camp together as a group. I have made allot of great friendships already because of the site and look forward to many more.

01-24-2008, 09:53 PM	#6
Chris Suyeda Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 105	Wow, thanks for the replies. I posted a similar thread to this at a number of forums and haven't received much, if any, feedback at all. Thanks for the good read. I've learned quite a bit from your replies and browsing your Delaware community. I wish you both the best of luck with your local based communities.

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