There are many rules to running a successful forum. It really takes common sense but a few rules are listed below.

A successful forum involves an owner who is present and engaging with their members. Nothing is more frustrating than a new forum popping up only to be deserted a month or so down the road. It is so important to an active member of your own forum.

It is also important that you set some guidelines or forum rules. This will help keep things organized and in order. Most members will respect your rules and follow them. Also, you need to be a good observer of what is going on in your forum. You need to know how to spot the members there simply to spam and those who like to bully others. You can hire moderators to help you with this if your forum begins to get too busy. Moderators are also great for keeping people interacting by starting new threads, answering questions and other things.

Forums do not have to be hard to run. You simply need to stay organized and participate. Keep the members who truly want to be part of the community and get rid of the spammers and people who simply want to start trouble.