Strategies What would you do differently if you know you have a competitor forum?

[joelr]

You're excited about establishing a new forum in a niche you're passionate about.

But you know that there are several much larger and established forums and online communities that already exist. What do you do differently?

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I think it's important to be unique but to also do what works.

Look at your competition and see how you can mimic it without copying off them. How can you do what's working for them but with your own spin?

Consider a SWOT analysis. Really. Why not? Measure the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your competition, its features, and its content.

After that -- look for the gaps in which is does not provide and that can be your unique take or feature.

But most forum owners make a simple mistake which railroads all their efforts.

They create features based on what THEY want what THEY foresee. In reality, you should create features based on the needs, wants, and pain points of your niche audience. "Listen" to them and "create" for them.

 

[Shortie]

This is a good question and not always one that we think of when we start up a new forum. It is always wise to look at your competitors, look at what they offer and what you can do differently.

Being unique is always eye-catching so if you can come in with something unique that your competitors have not done, that could work very well.