Business Forum fails to perform why?

[lighttech]

We have been in business 18 years and running an online store for the last three. I recently built a forum specific to our business. Interior design/Lighting. It seems to be having a hard time starting out. Why? Any persons ideas will be greatly appreciated. The web site is www.RLights.com and the forum is at www.rlights.com/forum.

[eSolutionsWork]

Getting a forum going: always an interesting and some difficult question.

Your forum looks ok. 30 posts on 17 topics - ok for a start.

I've set up and run a number of successful forums and there are some rules on this.

First, it needs to be seeded - strangers don't like to jump into an empty forum - like shoppers don't like to select from near-empty shelves.

Second, it helps if you can draw members from elsewhere. My gaming forums have been based on games which already have large forums. As a well-known character within them, I could pull members from there into my own forum. Is there a forum somewhere to do with your subject, or maybe a bit broader, say interior design, or DIY? Go there, post and drag peeps into your forum.

A forum is like a bar - the ambiance is very important. Part of that is the use of avatars and emoticons. Also consider ranks based on number of posts. Peeps go crazy to get promoted...

Convenience. Does your forum send emails to posters when somebody answers? When they arrive at the forum, they want to see things such as latest posts.

It may well be that you need a better system.

You also need to have a popular site, attracting uniques.

That said, my own forum is struggling. The club is only one month old and almost immediately - having just got it going - I had to drop the system and install a better one. This undid all the work I'd invested in getting it going... &*^%!! Then I had technical problems with the cookie settings and latest posts. So even with all my experience, it can be a struggle.

If you think this post is any use, drop on by and join the club - it's free and you can expect to get more help there. (See: promote, promote...)

Cheers!