MFBG (Part 3): Idea Integration & Layout Development
Idea Integration and Forum Layout Development.
Finally, we have finalized our forum topic. The next step is to integrate the idea into a structured forum layout, which allows easy navigation for your members.
Defining the Importance of a Forum Layout.
The forum layout of a board is the ordering and positioning of each forum. The structure is highly significant. Remember, the top half of your forum is what your visitors see first, meaning you must be able to appeal to your guests, with your content when they first load the page.
In regards to forum layouts, how can you appeal to your visitors?
90% of forums have administrative topics or general discussions located at the top of their boards. “Announcements, Suggestions” etc. The top half of the forum should contain all your significant (focused) topics, why? because it’s what visitors/members first see. You need to emphasis your forums focus, make it easy for your members to participate in the topical discussions. Example: If your forum is related to gaming, move all your gaming discussion forums to the top and locate your announcements, introductions etc
underneath.
Developing the Layout.
As stated above, avoid falling for the cliched approach. I encourage you to push the more active, topcial forums towards the top (top half of your forum), while moving the announcements and off-topic categories to the bottom. Why? as stated above “make it easy for your members to participate in the topical discussions” .
Lets begin with the general layout of your forum. Considering your forum is newly established, we should not go over 4-5 categories. Why? Visit my “Do not overwhelm your visitors” guide which states why you shouldn’t go over the recommended number of categories.
Example:
Category 1 (Forum Topic Related)
Category 2 (Forum Topic Related)
Category 3 (Off-topic / General Chat)
Category 4 (Announcements & Administration)
Reminder: You can always expand in the future.
Indepth Category Development
Lets say, 3-4 forums in each category is max? If you think your forum needs more, i would suggest you add them as a sub-forum. Here is an extract from my “Do not overwhelm your visitors” guide:
“A good idea is that you create a sub forum if you would like to break it down into a popular sub category. (Gaming -> Counterstrike). This will accumulate all the sub-category and the parent forum posts together and may develop an active forum atmosphere.”
Lets begin with adding forums to the first category (We are still using the Gaming topic for our sampling forum). Remember, our forum revolves around Gaming and our niche (main topical discussions) which is Gaming Hacks. In regards to our previous example, we have 2 categories which is related to our forum topic. Because our Niche is our main focus, we will have Gaming hack discussions in the first category and in the second category, we will cover brief gaming discussions.
Example:
Category 1 (Niche Discussions) - Emphasis.
Category 2 (General Gaming Discussions) - Try not to emphasis this category more than number 1, or you will lose the focus of your forum.
Lets give both categories an unique name but also keeping it simple. Why? If you notice, most users who are interested in Gaming hacks will not be 21 year olds, more likely younger kids, which means their intellectual knowledge isn’t extremely high. And you must adjust your forum to suit their likings, to maintain their interest. (My point is that, you must consider who your main target audience is and that you should customize your board as much to suit their taste).
Example:
Hacking Lab (Category 1)
Gaming Galore (Category 2)
Adding the forums into the Categories:
Lets add 3-4 main forums to the Hacking category and 2-3 main forums to the Gaming Galore.
Hacking Lab
- Gaming Hack Discussions
- Hack Downloads
- Tutorials and Support
Gaming Galore
- General Gaming Chat
- Console Discussions
- PC Gaming
Alright, lets now enhance the above example with some sub-forums.
Hacking Lab
- Gaming Hack Discussions
– Favorite Hacks
– New Releases
- Hack Downloads
– (Categorize the hacks to their dedicated game).
- Tutorials and Support
– (Categorize the tutorials/Guides to their dedicated game).
Gaming Galore
- General Gaming Chat
– Screenshots
- Console Discussions
– (Create a sub-forum for popular Consoles) *
- PC Gaming
– (Create a sub-forum for popular PC games) *
Tips: * Places to find popular PC games and Consoles would be popular Gaming Review sites.
The top 2 categories are complete, now to finish off the off-topic and administration sections. Both shouldn’t be too hard because it’s just a place for general chat.
Lets give Category 3 and 4 a name, some forums and additional sub-forums.
(Insert Site Name Here) Lounge
- The Warm Welcome
- Water Cooler
– Music
– Forum Games
- Media Mall
– Upcoming Movies
(Insert Site Name Here) Administration
- Bulletin Board
- Suggestions & Feedback
Just remember, there are no walls or limitations for the off-topic and administrating categories. So just throw in whatever you have. Just don’t overwhelm them.
Now lets see how the forum layout will look like when put together:
The Final Product:
Hacking Lab
- Gaming Hack Discussions
– Favorite Hacks
– New Releases
- Hack Downloads
– (Categorize the hacks to their dedicated game).
- Tutorials and Support
– (Categorize the tutorials/Guides to their dedicated game).
Gaming Galore
- General Gaming Chat
– Screenshots
- Console Discussions
– (Create a sub-forum for popular Consoles) *
- PC Gaming
– (Create a sub-forum for popular PC games) *
(Insert Site Name Here) Lounge
- The Warm Welcome
- Water Cooler
– Music
– Forum Games
- Media Maul
– Upcoming Movies
(Insert Site Name Here) Administration
- Bulletin Board
- Suggestions & Feedback
See, it’s compact and easy to navigate.
I hope this guide has helped you in developing a complete forum layout. Feel free to leave comments or questions for me.
In my next guide (Part 4), I will be covering Preparations before Launch (Themes, content etc).
Once again, Good Luck! and thank you for reading my forum building gude.
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