Creating A Forum

[SizzlingPopcorn.com]

I would like to create a forum on my site. Is there any free forums that I can create? I'm currently using blogger and I don't have my own host. Let me know of the sites and if you have any tips with creating a forum. Thanks!

[Bloggeries]

There are a few but if you are going to run a forum building a community wouldn't you want to do it on your own domain first instead of putting that much work into something you legally wouldn't own or be able to sell?

[Katalina]

There are quite a few places that will give you a free forum, in fact I think one of them is freeforum. something. But I agree with Rob. It is a lot of work getting a forum going. Once you have put all the work into it you want to make sure it is all yours.

[SizzlingPopcorn.com]

Yeah, thanks for pointing that out Rob. I think I will wait until my business is registered (within the next week or so) and then start shopping for a host that I can keep my blog with and add a forum to, which I hopefully can do during my spring break in 1-2 weeks.

[clinky]

I actually posted about this a few days ago. Check out my recommendations: 'Add a forum to your blog'

[Bloggeries]

vbulletin is fantastic and I'd argue the most professional and functional forum software online today. You can lease for $80 a year or buy straight out for $160. A safe approach is to buy first year then if it really picks up go buy the full license if you're sure you are in for the long haul.

[veikoh]

I would run my forum in some free hosting sites (I'm using Free Hostia: domain hosting and web hosting service, but there are several those sites available) and will install some open source forum software there (phpBB for example). The only cost will be your dot com name then until you reach higher traffic and space needs which will occur when your forum can be already profitable even using Google Adsense.

[PaulR]

Might want to consider vanilla for your forum software. It's extremely SEO friendly, plus it uses Markdown which not too many people seem to understand. Meaning, you wont get many outbound links just content for the spiders to digest.

Good luck

[lossehelin]

simplemachines is the best forum you can get for free.
check it out: simplemachines.org

[Bloggeries]

I've heard of simplemachines; some swear by it.

Another one if not mentioned is PHPBB.