Hello all.

Come accross this place today and thought it a good place to ask some question's.

Im thinking about starting a Forum up but not sure about the topic of interest as yet. Im thinking of using Vbulletin 3 as i've been playing with it locally for a day or so and quite like it. My main concern is finding a host, i've been look and with no joy to find a hosting company who will host for free for a month and if all goes well then sign up for a year but if not then i've not lost anything.

Has anyone here been in the same situation and what did you do if you were. Might be easyer if i look for somone to help me on this project to share the idea's and stuff with lol

Thanks for your time.

:)

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Jord

Moved to Web Design and Content for now as I think the need for a forum needs to be addressed. And also if you plan on running vB3, you must have a few $$$ at your disposal ;)

Popular forums just don't happen overnight, you don't have a plan in hand for the forum as yet, not even a topic, so I would suggest you quit while you are ahead :)

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Moved to Web Design and Content for now as I think the need for a forum needs to be addressed. And also if you plan on running vB3, you must have a few $$$ at your disposal ;)

Popular forums just don't happen overnight, you don't have a plan in hand for the forum as yet, not even a topic, so I would suggest you quit while you are ahead :)

Thats nice. :mad:

I wouldnt worry about that comment Source3k. Just do your best and move forwards. There are always people to tell you that you cant do something. Just prove them all wrong ;)

Originally posted by Stormhosts
I wouldnt worry about that comment Source3k. Just do your best and move forwards. There are always people to tell you that you cant do something. Just prove them all wrong ;)

Thank you. :)

I will continue...

Thanks again guys

Some hosts provide free trial period but most 30 day money back. SO you can sign up and if you are not satisfied of the results you can ask for refund.

But you should know that it is not easy to maintain a discussion forum. It is even more hard to make it popular for a month only and to attracte members.

Best Regards
Dimitar

Instead of using vB it might be worth using a free forum when you start. If you need to convert at a later date to vB then there are usually scripts to do this. phpbb.com might be a good start.

Stormhosts, I would have to disagree with you on this one -

phpBB is definitely NOT a good start because 99% of search engine spammers out there spam this board through numerous security holes, so unless you're great php coder - don't even look at phpBB (although I learned a lot while patching and hacking phpBB). Now, I don't say that there is no holes in commercial (IPB/vB) boards, it's just that they are less in numbers.

From my perspective phpBB is like a set of lego blocks for your forum whereas IPB/vB make very solid foundation. And even though I use IPB more often - not my choice - given one I would have went with vB for friendlier support and better business model at Jelsoft.

If you want something with a vBulletin feel to it, I'd suggest www.mybboard.com <- MyBB. It's pretty much a rip off of vBulletin, but free :p

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Moved to Web Design and Content for now as I think the need for a forum needs to be addressed. And also if you plan on running vB3, you must have a few $$$ at your disposal ;)

Popular forums just don't happen overnight, you don't have a plan in hand for the forum as yet, not even a topic, so I would suggest you quit while you are ahead :)
Good advice. Its not easy to get a forum started even if you do put money into it. Im about to go in the next stage of a few hundred on my forum for advertising itself. Like mouse says, It takes time. Vito had mentioned on these forums before that there are tons of tech forums that new ones wouldnt be as successfull (not to assume yours is going to be tech related). And that if you do want to start one to see what there is currently and think of something else. Woodworking, cooking, sewing, home improvements etc. I have a adult forum with a couple hundred members (after pruning from ~850) which was a waste of a vb license and bandwidth. People join just to see porn which is why I made a VIP area :stickout: but still doesnt make enough to pay for itself. I will continue to try to promote my main forum thouse because of what I have into it so far.
Good luck with your venture.

Originally posted by Stormhosts
I wouldnt worry about that comment Source3k. Just do your best and move forwards. There are always people to tell you that you cant do something. Just prove them all wrong ;)
I doubt Source3k would give up just because mouse says to do so but with what she does here and other forums allows her to see alot of forums that didnt make it as popular as the owner wanted them to be and ends up seeing them sold or the domain and vb license split up and sold. I have seen it many times as well. My assumption as where she is coming from IMO.

-Dave

Yeah true but thats why im looking for a trial etc to see how it goes depending etc... anyways thanks for the advice i've modded on some boards using VB and after playing with it a little i've come to like it, i do have a hell of a lot to learn i know but we all have to learn some place. I dont aim to make any money from it if it did go that way i wouldnt give up my job for it thats not what i ever intend.

Thanks again guys & gals

since you're just trying out. Look for a free host provider. You dont need so much resources for a new board.
Cost to run it
Domain name:
VB License:

Do any hosting companies provide Vbulletin 3 installed for free?

I doubt it. They would have to buy a new license for every person who installs it.

Source3k, if you look in the Other Offers forum, there are many forums for sale. If you don't have anything in mind as yet, maybe one of those would be worth buying and redeveloping? Sure beats starting from scratch :)

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Source3k, if you look in the Other Offers forum, there are many forums for sale. If you don't have anything in mind as yet, maybe one of those would be worth buying and redeveloping? Sure beats starting from scratch :)

Thanks for the idea. Will think about it some more first :)

ty all