Build/Set Up a Message Board at Your Domain Name

If you want to get a forum online at your own domain you will need a web host providing one of the forum softwares; vBulletin, phpBB or SMF. Some of the web hosts offer an installing service called "Fantastico". By using this service, you can create your forum without difficulty, even if you are not skilled in using any software.

To set up a forum website, there are six steps you will need to take:

Step 1: Register a domain name. A domain name is a name you want to call your website. For example, yahoo.com, articlesbase.com, threehosts.com or wikipedia.org.

Step 2: Buy a web hosting package providing phpBB, vBulletin or SMF to host your website online. A web hosting service provides you with online space and needed softwares. This enables you to get your forum online at your registered domain name. We recommend getting your domain and web hosting plan from the same company. This way, it is often possible to get your domain for free, due to some web hosting services offering a domain as a free gift today.

Step3: Install your favorite forum software. To do this automatically, install the forum software using Fantastico. Currently most web hosts have phpBB, vBulletin and SMF forum softwares available in their Fantastico. To install, you must first log into your web hosting account. Then choose the blue smiley face (called Fantastico) viewable on cpanel. Click on the desired forum software; they all look nearly the same. While phpBB is great for a new forum and has some great features, vBulletin is easier to use and maintain and is nicer to use. Select the domain name you would like to install the board to. The "Install in directory" box can be left empty in case you want to have your forum as the starting page for your website (http://www.yourdomain.com). You can specify a directory, e.g forum, in case you want to have your forum installed at http://www.yourdomain.com/forum.

Step4: Select the username and the password for the forum administrator.

Step5: Fill in the Site Name and the Short Description fields which will be appeared in the header of each page of your forum. Proceed by clicking Finish installation. You will be taken to a page with the administrative panel of the board.

Step6: Now, you can easily define the categories/sub-categories of the forum and manage them as the administrator.

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