Forum Admin Competition

**CoreyFreeman** · 20 August, 2009, 16:25 PM

So as I was planning the development of my new forum, I found that there were many people upset at the idea of me starting my own forum.

It seems that a lot of forum admins see new forums as rivals, inherently. While rivalry and competition can be healthy, the "me against the world" attitude seems more and more prevalent. But why?

As I've been taught in band - I don't compete with anybody but myself. You can get a lot more done working with people than against them. Bloggers know this, but have new admins lost this principle lately? I dare you to find a webmaster forum without a thread on how horrible DP is...

What do you think? Are forums becoming less and less friendly towards one another? Do you see yourself in competition with others? I want to know what others think.

**GeeOne** · 20 August, 2009, 17:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sneakyheathen

So as I was planning the development of my new forum, I found that there were many people upset at the idea of me starting my own forum.

It seems that a lot of forum admins see new forums as rivals, inherently. While rivalry and competition can be healthy, the "me against the world" attitude seems more and more prevalent. But why?

As I've been taught in band - I don't compete with anybody but myself. You can get a lot more done working with people than against them. Bloggers know this, but have new admins lost this principle lately? I dare you to find a webmaster forum without a thread on how horrible DP is...

What do you think? Are forums becoming less and less friendly towards one another? Do you see yourself in competition with others? I want to know what others think.

My experience is very good on it and I should consider myself lucky that I have not faced this situation, on the contrary I got the encouragement and co-operation from Will and one other admin, may be they are quite mature and very sensible.

G!

**bogart** · 20 August, 2009, 17:40 PM

I can't speak for other people but starting a forum is a lot of work. Most forums fail because they can't keep user interest.

It's probably eaisier to buy a dead forum than to create a new one. But why through all the effort when you can join forums for free and concentrate on making money?

Originally Posted by GeeOne

My experience is very good on it and I should consider myself lucky that I have not faced this situation, on the contrary I got the encouragement and co-operation from Will and one other admin, may be they are quite mature and very sensible.

G!

This forum is run in a business like and professional manner.

**Charles** · 26 August, 2009, 12:31 PM

Bloggers do contest against each other. Bloggers don't do guest posts to help other bloggers, they do 'em to help their own blogs.

Will/Alex have/(still are?) been active at other forums. They have nothing against them. But, together, we want to look at their flaws, fix 'em and beat 'em.

You can set personal goals of having x number of members... But, it's a lot more motivating to simply aim to be the best.

**Zash** · 28 August, 2009, 16:10 PM

I guess it depends where you look. Here at NetBuilders, we generally have an anti-DP attitude, but are generally encouraging to all other forums.

**bogart** · 29 August, 2009, 18:58 PM

Originally Posted by Zash

I guess it depends where you look. Here at NetBuilders, we generally have an anti-DP attitude, but are generally encouraging to all other forums.

NetBuilders isn't anti-DP. DP memebers are more than welcome to join us here

**Zash** · 29 August, 2009, 18:59 PM

Originally Posted by bogart

NetBuilders isn't anti-DP. DP memebers are more than welcome to join us here

NetBuilders is anti-DP Forum, not DP Members

**robjones** · 4 October, 2009, 16:50 PM

Originally Posted by Zash

NetBuilders is anti-DP Forum, not DP Members

I wouldnt say that (obviously I cant speak for everyone, nor can anybody). Many here still have logins there. For my part I'm not anti-DP, I;d just like this place to learn from what they've done right and more importantly,,, from what they've done wrong. Seems to me that's the track Will and crew are on.

As for starting other forums... there's still room out thre for a few, but yep, it's a lotta work. You are to a degree competing for people's attention even if the relationship between you and other forums are just peachy keen. It takes work and the right people to keep them thriving, and as I've seen in ither venues there are missteps that can kill progress.

This one had a very successful entry into the market... most dont. That wasnt a coincidence, it was the result of doing a lotta things right and doing a lotta the right things. There's a constant learning curve. As the guys that run this one can likely attest, starting a forum community is a process, not an event. Maintaining one afterward is a piece of cake if done wrong... pretty labor intense if done well.

~ Good luck with yours

**Natural Elements** · 14 February, 2010, 18:38 PM

Why should a forum compete with another one? I don't get that.

A specific forum can provide some very interesting categories where you are active and another one that can provide some other categories you are looking for.

It is the same principal as when you buy a music CD from a group you love, it doesn't mean that you will not buy another CD from another group that you love.