Managing Online Forums: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Run Successful Community Discussion Boards

Patrick O'Keefe

AMACOM, Apr 21, 2008 - Computers - 320 pages

Every day, millions of users log on to their favorite online forums and interact with others to get advice and discuss everything from the latest news and trends to their hobbies, professions, and whatever else strikes their fancy. Admin­istrators have to lead these communities, deal with difficult users, and choose moderators. Legal constraints, spammers, and technical issues can turn the excitement of running an online community into chaos. With the right guidance, however, running forums can be a pleasure. Patrick O’Keefe has spent years developing and managing online communities. Now, he shows readers how to make the right decisions about every aspect of their forums, including: • choosing a name and domain name • picking the right software • deciding on user options like avatars and private messaging • setting guidelines and dealing with violators • ensuring that posts stay on topic • settling online disputes among users • involving users and keeping the site interesting Managing Online Forums is the one book that shows site owners and administrators how to create a safe and entertaining community that users will return to again and again.

Contents

• Is This Book for You?: 1
• Chapter 1 Laying the Groundwork: 7
• Chapter 2 Developing Your Community: 17
• Chapter 3 Developing Guidelines: 59
• Chapter 4 Promoting Your Community: 91
• Chapter 5 Managing Your Staff: 117
• Chapter 6 Banning Users and Dealing with Chaos: 181
• Chapter 7 Creating a Good Environment: 219
• Chapter 8 Keeping It Interesting: 229
• Chapter 9 Making Money: 245
• End Note: 261
• Appendix A Online Resources: 263
• Appendix B Blank General Templates: 265
• Appendix C Glossary: 283
• Index: 289
• About the Author: 297

About the author

Patrick O’Keefe (Harbinger, NC) is the owner of iFroggy Network, an Internet network of content, community, and e-commerce sites covering various interests. He currently manages seven separate online communities and has developed communities that have become some of the largest on their subject matter in the world.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Managing Online Forums: Everything You Need to Know to Create and Run Successful Community Discussion Boards
• Author: Patrick O'Keefe
• Publisher: AMACOM, 2008
• ISBN: 0814412939, 9780814412930
• Length: 320 pages
• Subjects: Computers / Internet / Social Media; Computers / Social Aspects; Social Science / Media Studies