Think about the topics you want your forum website to cover and how you can best organize these to make user navigation as simple as possible.
The first thing you need to do is decide what your forum is going to be about. It will need to be clear to people what topics will be discussed so they can decide if they want to join in.
#1 – Identify the Purpose and Audience of the Forum Website
The domain name is the website address that users put into their address bar in order to access your website.
Next, you will need to decide what software you want to use to build your forum.
Some of the most popular software options include:
- phpBB
- Vanilla Forums
- Discourse
Or you can opt for a platform that integrates with your existing website such as Muut or the Wix Forums plugin for Wix websites.
Once you’ve decided on the theme of your forum website you’ll need to come up with a name for it and purchase the domain name.
Forum software allows you to add the forum functionality to your existing website or build a dedicated standalone forum website.
You can opt for a broader topic for your forum website and then set up more specific discussion boards and threads on specific topics.
Most forum websites organize their content via topic, organized by main categories and subcategories to allow users to find the content and discussions they are looking for.
You can purchase your domain name from a domain registrar such as GoDaddy and when choosing a domain name opt for something easy to remember (so avoid numbers and hyphens) and keep it short and relevant.
#4 – Create a Sitemap and Wireframe
For example, if you own a florist business you may decide to launch a florist-themed forum website. If so, you can have floristry as your main forum theme and then launch discussions on specific topics such as seasonal flowers and how to care for specific bouquets.
#2 – Decide on the Type of Forum Software or Plugin To Use
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To ensure you’re structuring your forum website in the best way, create a sitemap and wireframe that breaks down all of your content categories.
In order to chose the purpose and theme of your forum website you will need to identify your target audience. This will allow you to discover the topics that resonate with your audience.
Take a look at our website builder guide to help you decide which platform is best for building your forum website.
#3 – Choose a Domain Name
One of the important things you need to do when planning your forum website is to decide on the structure of your content.