Should I Start A Website?

[Thomas]

Well I've been toying with the idea of creating a forum. I already have a domaine name (thechatbench.com) but I don't feel that.... into creating a new website.

 

Should I not waste my time? Or simply use it as a learning experience.

[Nathan]

Well that's up to you. What type of forum would it be?

 

Setting up the site won't take that much time really, the challenge is to get traffic there after it's complete.

 

Are you knowledgeable and interested in the niche?

[Thomas]

A general forum. It will be set up from on my domain thechatbench,com I did attempt to start a website before with it but I didn't really have a head on for everything so I simply closed it.

[tetutato]

Unless you think you can really dedicate HOURS everyday, don't even bother for a general forum. It would be way too much work.

[rcturbos]

It's really up to you, but I can tell you one thing about a general chat forum is it's easy to get it active but it's hard to keep it active.. The reason it's easy to get it active is because everyone can join in on the discussions and threads easily.. But they can get bored easily so finding a way to keep the intrested is hard.. I think it can have a good future just depends how you plan it out.

[Nathan]

It's really up to you, but I can tell you one thing about a general chat forum is it's easy to get it active but it's hard to keep it active.. The reason it's easy to get it active is because everyone can join in on the discussions and threads easily.. But they can get bored easily so finding a way to keep the intrested is hard.. I think it can have a good future just depends how you plan it out.

 

That's the thing, you need a lot of traffic hitting the site at launch for it to make it otherwise you will always have the challege of a few members joining posting, nothing new going on and leave, then a few new people join post then leave ect...it's a bad cycle to get into.

[Gamrpro]

I wouldn't do it. It's very hard to be successful with a general forum these days. The niche is overly saturated. If you have a ton of ideas to be unique then I'd be there cheering you on!

Edited May 30, 2012 by Gamrpro

[tetutato]

That's the thing, you need a lot of traffic hitting the site at launch for it to make it otherwise you will always have the challege of a few members joining posting, nothing new going on and leave, then a few new people join post then leave ect...it's a bad cycle to get into.

 

And then you start spending more time to do post exchanges, maybe even spend more money for renovations... You'll most likely lose money.

[DarkGizmo]

Unless you think you can really dedicate HOURS everyday, don't even bother for a general forum. It would be way too much work.

^ This. You sound very VERY unsure about if you should or shouldn't. If you're this unsure then I say DON'T, because you'll just be wasting your time.

[ridwan sameer]

Well you do seem unsure.

But as of right now I really want to create a site but dont have the funds to, I mean it's a great learning experience, And when you have a forum like this around, You always have help.

So you should really take the chance and do it, But if your motives are to only make it profitable or something, THen think about something better maybe

[Nathan]

I see that vBulletin is installed there now with a theme. Did you buy or already own that?

[Thomas]

I see that vBulletin is installed there now with a theme. Did you buy or already own that?

I have had a vB license for a while. I bought it ages ago when I started the website before.

 

I have had another idea of what the website can be about but it is something slightly... Personal so although you might see the topic from when I start posting. It is another niche that might be well used.

[Nathan]

Looks good, I would remove the spammy looking skin author from the footer though.

[SpikeTheLobster]

Well I've been toying with the idea of creating a forum. I already have a domaine name (thechatbench.com) but I don't feel that.... into creating a new website. Should I not waste my time? Or simply use it as a learning experience.

 

Sell it. You're obviously in two minds about it and if there's one single thing you absolutely NEED to make a website work, it's passion (or dedication or stubbornness - all similar things). If you're just toying with the idea it'll be a time-sink, then you'll give up on it and it'll just put you off doing anything productive in the same vein later on.

 

You're better off avoiding the whole thing until you're really fired up about something and will put in the energy, effort and time.

[Sherlock]

^Read^ . It takes hours a day to make a forum succsefull!

If you don't want to it don't you will waste your time! Think before you start!

[ljepilo]

Well I've been toying with the idea of creating a forum. I already have a domaine name (thechatbench.com) but I don't feel that.... into creating a new website.

 

Should I not waste my time? Or simply use it as a learning experience.

You should definitely start it , its gonna be a good new experience for you !

[antwanmon]

I would recommend that you start this forum, but try to pick a more specific niche. There are so many general forums out there that you would be lucky to get a few members. If you really want this to grow, try and dominate a niche that you know about or have a passion for. Reaching success is going to require a huge time and effort commitment, so be prepared. Also, if you specialize your forum it will be much easier to get members to join and stick.

[Nathan]

How's it coming along? I see it out there but nothing on it yet, when's the launch date?

[icymx]

I would recommend that you start this forum, but try to pick a more specific niche. There are so many general forums out there that you would be lucky to get a few members. If you really want this to grow, try and dominate a niche that you know about or have a passion for. Reaching success is going to require a huge time and effort commitment, so be prepared. Also, if you specialize your forum it will be much easier to get members to join and stick.

Spot on. Listen to this guy

[Victor Leigh]

Here's an idea.

 

Don't start with topics all over the place. Just start on one particular niche. There are so many things which are related to chat. For example, you can start with girl chat. Concentrate on that until you have got it running strongly. Then branch into, say, boy chat.

[dexterlablab1]

I think if you have the means, motive, and idea, you should go ahead and give it a try. Because if anything else, the longer you wait, someone will beat you to the punch and you might end up regretting not doing it.

[Nathan]

So what's the deal Thomas? I see it's down now?

[dagscot]

Before you even think of making a website, have a plan. It will make life so much easier. Get a pen and paper and decide what you really want. You say a forum? That's great, at least you have an idea. I've known people that started making websites and decided, halway through the design, that all they really wanted was a simple blog. Good luck!

[Thomas]

Turns out it never happened. I think I don't have the personal drive to keep it going. I'm a lot better at just lending a helping hand here and there to other websites.

[DarkGizmo]

Turns out it never happened. I think I don't have the personal drive to keep it going. I'm a lot better at just lending a helping hand here and there to other websites.

That's probably for the best then. Better off not wasting your time if your heart isn't fully into it.