What can be done to make a forum unique?

[Tindris]

There are so many forums around nowadays. Most disappear within a few weeks but there are still some that are managing to get off the ground and grow. What is it that makes these forums unique and what ideas can be offered to new webmasters in order for them to succeed?

 

[StevenF50]

Unique service maybe.
Custom theme.
A twist on the normal genres.

 

[Shix]

Custom MOD perhaps?

 

[StevenF50]

Hmm that's a good idea.

Also a unique feature.

 

[Tindris]

Maybe you could develop these ideas, what sort of features?

 

[StevenF50]

Well I have a few ideas, don't want to share all of them as I want them to stay unique but one could be a wall page, similar to a status page, but everyone would post on the same wall.

 

[Tindris]

Where would a wall be an advantage?

 

[StevenF50]

Make the forum more social, plus because I'm a genius at getting posts, the feature would when they make a wall post, it would automatically reply to the wall thread so your still getting posts but it's presented nicer as a whole different feature.

 

[Tindris]

Hmm, that would work for some forums, mainly if the posts were short or if it was a roleplaying site

 

[StevenF50]

It would work on general forums to.

 

[Tindris]

Is there not a risk of it getting overcrowded and complicated then?

 

[StevenF50]

Not really as people would only use the wall feature, not the thread itself, the thread is just there so that the forum still gets posts. And it would only be one topic.

 

[Terry Harvey]

Custom theme definitely!

500th post.

 

[StevenF50]

What about a different group to the usual groups?

 

[Tindris]

What do you mean by group?

 

[GAF]

Add different sections. Find a gold mine and stick with it. It is hard to be 'unique' with forums now days though.

 

[SeanFace101]

A custom theme would be the best thing to start with.
Also depending on your forums genre / niche, offering unique services will help.

 

[NeoGills]

Article must be unique and theme too.
it would be great if any moderator is good in nature, can deal with all the members.