We can change the number to anything else we'd like, but the problem is the same: MOST Community Managers have no idea how to spend their money for their site.
Or, better said: How to spend it wisely.
You can start a successful site with few bucks or thousands of dollars. Of course, having more money can help, but it doesn't mean you'll succeed, especially since you're gonna squander it for useless stuff or without a decent plan.
As the saying goes, "See your forum as a business" and invest your money with a clear plan and strategy to ensure long-term success.
1. Expenses you can't neglect
First things first, Web hosting is essential. But don't fall into the trap of overpaying for resources you don't need yet. Start with the smallest shared plan that meets your requirements, and upgrade as your site grows. Paying monthly is a safer option, providing flexibility if circumstances change.
There are some items you simply cannot compromise on. Hosting and domain name are the pillars of a well-functioning forum. Opting for a reliable, paid hosting service is vital, as free hosting can lead to numerous issues that hinder your site's growth and performance.
Moreover, investing in a top-notch script from the get-go, like InvisionCommunity or XenForo, can give your forum a competitive edge. These scripts may come with a price tag, but their robust features and solid development teams make them worthwhile investments. If you would rather start with a free software: SMF is the way to go.
You need to know what direction you're headed with a mission statement in your mind. Check out what features, 3rd party add on's those softwares offer, and which aligns best in your direction.
Once you've set up your domain name, script, and link structure, it's essential not to tamper with them again. Focus on other aspects such as content, design, and promotion, without revisiting these foundational elements.
I do consider a unique design to be important for a website. You can get someone to help with some small tweaks, you can do some changes yourself, you can pay someone to create a unique design for the community. With few hundreds bucks you can get a professional theme only your site has.
2. Being Smart About Non-Essential Expenses
While some expenses are vital, there are areas where you can be savvy without sacrificing quality.Your domain: One good domain name is sufficient. No need to secure multiple extensions unless it aligns with your brand strategy. Opting for a one-year registration saves money and provides flexibility. What's wrong with 1 year registration? Will you not be around in 12 months to renew?
Web Hosting: Start with the smallest shared plan that meets your current requirements. You can always upgrade as your site grows, but paying for excessive resources upfront is unnecessary. Monthly payments offer better flexibility, ensuring you're not locked into long-term commitments. Just ask around and you'll have tens of recommended hosts. Get THE SMALLEST plan there. Shared plan, smallest possible. I don't care you dream to be the next Gaia Online and need an entire datacenter. I don't care you have thousand of dollars in your budget. You need a very small plan, not half of Google's servers.
Paid Posters: To get your forums off the ground you might consider paid posters or similar arrangements. And you might say 'I can pay $100/day for content'. Perfect. How long can you afford it? And, when your money is gone, cause it's gonna be, what's happening with your community? Does it have enough 'natural' growth? When the paid posters leave is there anyone to post. Do you have enough traffic to sustain such a big activity?
When starting a forum and needing paid posters, you have to understand this is not a sprint. We're not here to brag about how many posts a day we can make, at least not the admins who take this seriously. We're not at kindergarten here, we're INVESTING money in a project and need to see it grow and be able to sustain this for a while.
Don't squander all your money on paid editors. Have few of them to spice up the content, but focus on attracting more members, promoting your forums and getting the activity to 'flow'. Set a VERY SMALL budget and spread the content. You might need to do this for 3-4 months until the forum starts 'flowing' naturally, and it's healthy to not have the most of your content delivered by paid contributors. While having paid posters can boost initial content, don't rely solely on them. However, it's better to pay a someone slightly more and get some articles instead.
Paid Promotion: It's good to have a budget for paid advertising, so that, together with your own link building and promotion efforts the traffic can slowly rise. However, remember that forum growth is a gradual process. It's not about getting thousands of visitors immediately, but steadily building your traffic over time. Your activity and traffic need to go hand in hand. You build your traffic SLOWLY, and try to keep the activity constant. Having 1000 posts/day for few days is worthless if you have small or crappy traffic and having a lot of traffic on a very small forum is again a waste.
3. The Time Factor: A Crucial Element
Perhaps the most valuable asset in this equation is time. Growing your forum and attracting members takes patience and consistent effort. There's no need to rush spending your entire budget in a short span. Plan your expenses wisely and consider setting monthly budgets, gradually increasing as your forum gains traction. I don't understand if people create a forum, dump a load of money and aren't even engaged in their own community. You need to invest TIME in your community. I've got multiple examples in my bookmarks where the owner is hardly engaged but yet they think they have a thriving community while 90% is paid.
Don't expect too much and don't give up!
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you start with a $5000 budget or just a few bucks, the key is to invest wisely and prioritize for your forum's long-term success. Avoid splurging on unnecessary expenses and keep a clear plan in mind. By being thoughtful and resourceful, you can achieve remarkable success, even with a modest budget!
