Over the years, I have participated in several coaching and mastermind programs, most with a forum of one type or another and very few of them are ever successful.
In preparing one of my continuity programs, I thought back to all the forums I have been a part of and what worked and what did not work for each of them and THEN I created my own forum.
Here's some of the do's and don'ts so you can create your own successful forum: 1.
DO define what "successful" means to you when it comes to your forum.
For me, it meant daily participation by members...
aka, an "active" place where members can build a community with each other and me and create a forum to meet your definition.
2.
DON'T let someone else (or the members) take your place in coaching/mentoring on the forum.
3.
DO include resources your members will find useful and helpful and make them easy to locate.
4.
DON'T leave previous months' call recordings, etc.
on the forum unless program is closed.
5.
DO put event information on the forum, as well as call recordings.
6.
DON'T let the forum discussions replace email and other communication with your members.
7.
DO ask for frequent feedback about how things are going on the forum and you may need to adjust as you feel it is necessary.
All in all, think about what YOU would want in a forum and that is what you want to give to your clients.