When you're setting up a forum, how much time (and effort) do you put into researching the niche before you start?
It's been about half a decade since I was in this position, heh! I recall spending a lot of time laying the ground work and looking at what I believed other communities were doing right and what I could do better. I think it's really important to understand the landscape you're entering when setting up a community in a niche with existing forums that are already out there, especially as you're going to be competing for the same audience and essentially, people who may well already be registered contributors at those existing sites. In terms of effort, for me this meant spending time as a member and contributor elsewhere in the niche, on the so called competitor websites, not just before launch but well afterwards- and not just so I could covertly attract visitors to my own site via signature links and the like but so I could understand the perspective of a 'normal' member elsewhere and 'get things right' back on my own board. I also appreciated the side effect this had on reputation and relationship building, and really believe it made people feel more comfortable interacting with me on my own site knowing I was 'one of them' elsewhere, as it were. This effect was maintained before and after launch, people visited because they trusted me and valued my contribution on other sites.
I had a sudden brainwave and decided to start a forum focussing on the county I live in. Half an hour on google confirmed that there was on half assed council run forum and that was it. I built my forum and released it into the wild. Within days I got a glossy (and very pretty) leaflet through the door advertising a new website that was based on the very specific area I live in. I very nearly cried as this super glossy website could kill me off. They had a promo where if you register you could win an iPod or a £100 hamper. I dried my tears and kept a beady on the site, they had a forum attached so I kept popping in and having a look. Admin is never there and after the prize draw was completed everyone disappeared. So, don't be put off by seeing competition, they can actually help you if you have the right strategy and energy.
I definitely like to know what's out there before I commit. In fact I'll have to change my signature soon because I think I've found a new niche to exploit and will be researching that all week before deciding what to do about it at the weekend
At least a full week of research, sometimes longer pending on how wide the competition grid is. Usually I make sites that are the first of their specific niche but even when they are open and running and doing extremely well...I still research constantly to improve them to ensure they are the best of the best of the best!
