how to keep up with growth?

[bethoven]

As a forum owner at first we were all excited in setting up our forums from choosing our software to use, selecting our domain and I bet we were all jumping in excitement when we had our first batch of members. But as months or years go by that energy dwindles down.... what do you do to keep up with the growth of your forum? what do you do to have the same level of excitement when you first started your forum?

[probe]

I don't know what to suggest, either you're excited to see the growth or not. Hire some mods to help keep up with things if you have lots of users and you're having troubles yourself. As for excitement, try to incorporate a new project into your forum, what kind of forum IS it? Be interactive with your members

[AyaEve]

As for me, just seeing how it grows really excites me. Also doing some events are eventually getting me an excitement on how my members respond to it. Interaction is another thing as well. Having an interaction to your member might help you keep up with it.

[Soulwatcher]

I suggest before starting a forum to have a 3 year plan before you even start. Things might not go according to plan, but if you experience a huge growth spurt you will be prepared for it. Not being prepared is a good way to kill off members. I also think over time your forum should be as exciting to you as the day you launched it. If its not as fun for you it may be time to sell it and move on.

[vthomas]

I would have to agree that it is best to hire moderators to monitor the activity within the forum. Let's admit it, sometimes, spammers can just get their way around things and they can cause havoc amongst the discussion.

If you are getting a little bored out of what you are offering, you can try adding some more sub forums for off topic discussion.