Do you first complete so many steps before officially launching a forum? if so, what steps do you take up to the launch? Has this been a successful move for you?
I try to get all the basics setup - structure, skins, all the ACP stuff. Then start working on the documentation. Opening the forum then, allows people to come and suggest and mould your site in a user friendly direction, so it helps in my opinion. Obviously opening too early will come across as unprofessional.
I go by this order before launching: 1. Research keywords for a perfect domain name. 2. Decide on a domain, register it 3. Install a theme, mods and a custom theme 4. Get a custom logo to professionally match my theme 5. Have some post exchanges to get some form of discussion going 6. Get a co-admin or moderator 7. Create rules, stickies and important topics 8. Launch!
