How to create your very own forums (free) LOTS of pictures to HELP.

Ever wanted to discuss with your friends about a topic?
Ever wanted to be an ADMINof your very own forum?

I will show you how today!

Step One

The first step to know is what type of forumboard you want.
Two common ones people use are

• IPbFree (Invision Powerboard)
• PhpBB Forums

I will add a section for the PhpBB Forums if it is necessary however due to the popularity of IPbFree Boards and its user friendly functions we'll be focusing on IPb Free boards today.

Step Two



Invision Powerboard Powerboard - Joining up

I) Go to http://ipbfree.com/home/

II) Click setup



III) Type in the necessary details you want your board to end up with.



Acess name is to acess your forum, Forum name is what it will say at the top when you open the forum

IV) Go to your E-mail and validate your E-mail.

Step Three
Managing your administrative powers.

I) First of all, log in with the username and password you created.

II) Next click what i circled in red, the ADMIN CP. This will enable you Administrative powers on your forum. You will be required to re-login.


III) You will be brought to a page like this.


Here you can control your forums!
IPBfree updates will be shown here.
You can create notes to remind yourself of things you need to do

IV) To create subforums and new categories go to Forum Control


The options should be self-explanatory.
Announcements create an announcement in the forum.
Permission Masks allow different users to be able to see/post in different forums

V) Users and Groups



Pre-registering allows you to make an account
Find/Edit/Suspend User allows you to customise a users rank and permission mask
Bulk Email members is very useful to send a message to all your members at once.
User Title/Ranks allows you to create your own ranks or edit ranks within your forum

Step Four
Forum Sucess

Advertise your forum on various sites, DO NOT MAKE THREADS ADVERTISING YOUR FORUM ON SYTHE, keep it in your sig.

Tell your friends about it, decorate it.

If you find your IPb Free Board looks outdated and ugly, visit this site for skins to customise your forums.
http://ipbfreeskinszone.ipbfree.com
If requested, I'll post an additional tutorial on how to change skins, banners, wrappers,

Thanks for reading

 

Great guide. I read all the way through it, made my own forums. You have pictures, and its perfect. 10/10

 

SMF should be included =]

 

Sorry, but what are SMF's?

 

It's a forum board software.
It's open source, similar to phpBB.

 

i think mybb should be in there too as it is easiest to install mods on

 

sounds easy enough problem is getting active traffic

 

Thanks this thread helped alot.

 

Thanks, this really helped.

 

Thanks very much

 

No problem, ask if you need any further help.

 

its good definately UE material XD

keep it up brah!
sorry ill never say brah again

 

Ive made a forum long time ago, didn't use it since.

Great guide!

 

nice guide

 

Are you misc brah?
if not nvm but thanks.

 

Pretty decent guide. You should make one for vBulletin also. =D
Keep up the good guide writing.
7/10.