Do you still think its popular or is it dying down? Just a quick question because, I feel like in ALL forums the activity is dying down. Do you think the foruming era is dead? I'm also asking this because I may want to start up my forum, but I don't know if its worth it - buying the domain, host, forum software, etc. if it ain't ever going to get big, you know? I also don't know which audience to target to, graphics, wrestling, sports, media, etc. Well, yeah. I just want to know what you think on this topic. Thanks, {G}.
I wouldn't recommend it personally, because I have been seeing many GFX sites die around me, but if you have a rabid fan base, then I say go for it!
If you have plenty of money, and you don't really care if you lose some then yes go for it. I have been seeing several forums basically die, but as well lately I have seen some improve as well
The graphics forums, are dying, because right now it's a niche that was really started about 5-6 years ago. Forums, however, aren't the thing dying. It's the things that forums are based off of, that are dying. In this case, graphics are dying. However, forums about cars/computers/gaming/sex/hobbies/ etc. aren't dying in the least.
I know that the InvisionFree/ZetaBoards network is dying down. I think other forums are dying down, because a few of the older forums that I visit (that had been active a while ago) are now dying. I wouldn't start a site unless you are willing to invest the money to make it grow big. If it's a graphics site, it should have a large database of resources. If you have no idea as to the audience to target, start out with what you want on the forum. Get those people interested, get their feedback. (I.E. Create a gen chat forum, and convert to tech forum.)
Most forums I am familiar with are half the sites they were last year or the year before. I personally think it's slowly dying, but not for good.
Some are dying, others are growing. It's just a matter of what you do with your forum that counts. If you have a good fan base, then go for it. Nothing to lose.
It's survival of the fittest, a few dedicated core sites are still going strong, but others that have less interest in the subject usually die off quickly.
if u can bank a PS3 giveaway a month for people that are active, or win SIG OF THE MONTH, etc. GO FOR IT!
agreed with that as long as you have a loyal group and some money to spare (and a lot of luck) you can still make a succesful forum. look in the advertising section, there actually are quite a few forums that are still doing good.
GFX forums are dying, not the whole "forum" idea in general. Many new sites don't make it because there are plenty of already established forums that have members already. It's similar to the concept of outsourcing. Many small shops are forced to close down because of larger competitors, such as Wal Mart. Would it be wise to open a small corner store next to Wal Mart? Of course not! (Unless you have so much money and nothing better to do with it. Than by all means, go ahead!)
If you make your site interesting enough with good content and if you're willing to pump something in it to make it active, you should go for it. And by pumping, I don't necessarily mean money. Most important thing is to get active yourself on other boards, make a name for yourself. Then you will automatically attract people to your site (by sig space advertising for example). And if your content is good then, people will stick around. I agree gfx is "dying out" a bit, allthough I wouldn't say it like that. It's simply a a fact people are currently losing some interest in it. But like everything in this world, what dies out at a certain point, will have a grow later on. All things are generally with ups and downs, especially somethings as quickly changing as Gfx. People really got interested in it when new styles other than grunge started appearing, but lately there haven't been any real new develoments in the gfx area, so that's why people are most likely losing some interest.