What are the categories every forum could use? Should categories be specific? Or broad?
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It depends if this forum is a support forum of a company means users of a company website join there to express their technical problems using the platform or more intended for technical terms, or a normal forum. As a small example, I do not think there is off topic section on stack overflow.A off topic section is a must for any forum that is based around a specific niche. It can be difficult to get active members if your niche is very specific and your forum doesn't have a off topic section.
The concept remains the same being a staff member on a forum or being administrator even without create forums you will get knowledge how admin panel works but if you still as member then you cannot discover until hired as staff member.I don't own a forum, but I am on many forums now, and most of them have a specific niche and a general/miscellaneous category where members can discuss things that are not related to the categories, and they are filled with lots of threads.
The forums have same structure generally, what differs is users engaged and number of subjects per day. But it could have only one section like all of sections about sports or all sections are about general chat it is feasible too.It should have sections like General chat, sports, Money Making etc and Miscellaneous too
Indeed, the general section is a great place where everyone can easily express themselves without being worried of not posting in the right section or if it's related to money or business and the likes.Every forum should have a general section where issues that are bothering to everyone can be talked about and enjoyed. Not everyone is a webmaster or financial expert.
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