Create a Web Site Forum – How forum hosting works

Start here:

http://www.onlineinstitute.com/forumsoftware.html

Free demo is here:

http://www.forum-hosting.oli.us/index.php

Hey guys and gals, Fred here with another tip on how you too, actually anyone, can be a web guru, without having to be a tech-geek.

Ever been a member of a forum or message board online? most have.

Forums are like online hangouts, where people with common interests share info and get to know each other.

I often visit this music forum where I get the latest info and tour dates on my favorite band. Then there’s a webmaster frum where I keep up on the web’s latest secrets.

And here’s a secret about forum hosting, a forum can actually get your more traffic to your website and higher ranking in the search engines, as they increase your number of inbound links coming to your web site.

Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a techy at all to start your own forum. There’s really just 2 simple Steps:

1. Choose some Forum software you like.
2. Choose a good Forum Host, who makes your forum accessible online.

I’ll try to make these 2 steps as basic as possible, with my own recommendations.

Step 1.

It’s important to chose forum software that has all the features you and your forum members will want, like the ability for members to share files, pictures, create opinion polls, set Calendar events, instant message and more.

One forum software that does this, and is also free, is drum roll …. Simple Machines Forums, or SMF.

The great part about Simple Machines is the creators are always improving the software, and adding new features, based on input from a whole community of cool people who have their own forums. This means Simple Machines already has most the features today’s users are looking for.

There’s a site where you can try a live demo of latest Simple Machines version, the one I link to is hosted by Online Institute.

And that brings us to the second step: getting a good host.

I mention Online Institute because they are a pioneer in forum hosting. They were around before Google and Youtube, and continue to do a reliable job installing and customizing forums. They give you a web address for your forum, so you get your own domain that starts with www. Also, unlike a lot of forum hosts, Online Institute can actually help if you have any questions along the way, because they’ve been doing it for so long. And from my experience, they’re courteous too, which is always cool.

A decent forum host is usally a lot cheaper than they typical cell phone bill, usually about 10 bucks a month, give or take, which is the only fee you need to pay if you go with free forum software like Simple Machines, But if your forum haoens to take off like many have, and become a thriving online community, maybe donate a little back over at the site who makes the free software: http://www.SimpleMachines.org.

If you feel like getting your feet wet, go on over to http://www.onlineinstitute.com and click the “Forum Hosting” link, they also have the free demo.

So that’s it. Good software, a good host who does all the technical work, and you too can start a forum, whether you use it to blog, connect with friends, family, business colleagues, or just to start your own unique and interactive home on the web. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. It’s your forum!

PS: Online Institute also offers private chat software you can try for free here:

http://www.cafe.olicentral.com/index.php

more details on the private chat hosting are here:

http://www.onlineinstitute.com/chat

Note this tutorial uses the term Forum but some people refer to them as Message Boards or Message Board hosting.

Enjoy Your Forum!

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