Recently, I have been taking great pains to improve the communication channels between me (plus the Hyperboards Staff) and you, our loyal Hyperboarders (sounds like an extreme sports team, doesn’t it?), such as the Feedback bar, our Twitter and Facebook pages, this blog, etc. We’ve also added and improve upon features for forum owners to help them better communicate with their members, such as the Mass PM and Mass email sections.

However, opening communication channels and giving you all the tools you need as a forum owner to hear what your users are saying won’t make a lick of difference if you don’t do the most important thing you can do as a forum owner and a forum leader: LISTEN!

I’m not saying you have to DO everything your members suggest, but you do need to hear them out and respond to them. Even if you don’t agree with an idea and end up replying, “Thank you for your suggestion, though we are taking the forum in a different direction and will not be adding that at this time,” that is better than nothing. You should acknowledge your members and thank them for their input and support regardless of how great an idea it is or if it is used or not.

Listen and engage your members. If your forum doesn’t have its own Feedback board or section of the site, CREATE IT NOW! Give your members a voice and a greater “forum” within which to express their thoughts and ideas with you. Your members are your greatest asset and listening to them is the only way to harness their power.

Let’s be honest. Growing your forum can be pretty darn tough! There are many challenges you will face as a forum owner and no two forums face exactly the same obstacles. Sometimes you have problem users and somethings the problem is the lack of users. You may be having trouble growing your forum or you may have reached a point where your forum feels stagnant and stale. So what do you do when you’ve hit a roadblock and you don’t know what to do? Well, the first step when facing any difficult situation is: Don’t Panic!

And, don’t despair! If you let yourself get down, get upset, or get “freak out,” then you will no longer be in a position, and state of mind, required to come up with a solution. Before you give up, just remember that you are not alone. There are thousands of forums out there that have experienced what you are going through and there are always people, websites, and other resources out there ready and willing to give you some advice or motivation. Ask and ye shall receive.

A lot of times to get some help, all you have to do is ask! When you get stumped or feel defeated, go explore the web, do some searches for guides or find websites, and even other forums, that provide assistance for the challenge you are facing. Find an IRC channel or chat room where you can ask forum experts for their advice. Talk to people you might now who have some experience with forum. And don’t forget that your own members can be invaluable assets. Ask them for help or advice or assistance in whatever it is you are trying to do. You can even get help on the Hyperboards Support Forum – just create a support thread and explain your situation. There are so many resources out there waiting to be tapped!

So stay positive, stay focused, and be open to letting others assist you. Seek help wherever you can and watch as your forum takes to new heights!

Create a Welcome Board

Create a place for your new members to introduce themselves to help break the ice. By inviting them to post and share some personal information, you are giving them an opportunity to feel welcomed and your other users an opportunity to interact with a new face.

Respond To All Welcome Threads

You should personally respond to any new member who creates a welcome thread in your welcome board. Do so as quickly as possible. Even if the message they post is only a single word, such as “Hello.” Each new member deserves to be welcomed.

Hopefully, the new user will share more about themselves and if it is something interesting, there is potential for an engaging conversation to ensue (ask questions or give input). Always seek to drive meaningful discussion as it will increase the value of your content. Also, encourage other staff members to welcome new members and post in as many as they can.