---
title: "How to Create a Forum Website"
description: "Niche forum communities can be a great resource for news and professional development. Below we cover important steps to create a forum website. Security Analytics Optimization SEO Affiliate Install..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/forum-website-boldgrid/
date: 2019-05-29
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Website"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to Create a Forum Website

Niche forum communities can be a great resource for news and professional development. Below we cover important steps to **create a forum website**.

[Security](#security)
[Analytics](#analytics)
[Optimization](#optimization)
[SEO](#seo)
[Affiliate](#affiliate)

## Install a Forum Plugin

You can [install many plugins](https://wordpress.org/plugins/search/forum/) that integrate forums into BoldGrid. Some more popular options:

[![bbPress forum example](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/bbpress-nutrition.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/bbpress-nutrition.png)

**[bbPress](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/bbpress/)**

[![wpForo Forum example](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/wpforo-forum-exercise.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/wpforo-forum-exercise.png)

**[wpForo Forum](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpforo/)**

[![Asgaros forum example](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/asgaros-forum-exercise.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/wordpress-plugins/asgaros-forum-exercise.png)

**[Asgaros Forum](https://wordpress.org/plugins/asgaros-forum/)**

## Security

[![Vector lock](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/social-media/vector-lock.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/social-media/vector-lock.png)

**Enable [Free SSL](/support/website/ssl/auto-ssl-guide/)** to improve security for forum members.
**Install a [security plugin](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/recommended-security-plugins/)** to defend against malware. We recommend [WordFence](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/wordfence/).

**Enable [Total Upkeep](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/boldgrid-backup-auto-update-settings-2/)** and download backups regularly.

**[Strengthen email hosting](/support/email/strengthen-overall-email-authentication/)** to prevent spam and having emails marked spam.

### Privacy

Do you want part(s) of your forum threads to be private and unsearchable by search engines? You may need to edit your [robots.txt file](/support/website/identify-and-block-bad-robots-from-website/) to block crawling agents. Contact your forum and security plugin developer(s) for more information on best ways to implement this.

## Analytics

**Use an [analytics web application](/support/web-analytics) to learn your audience**. [Google Analytics](/support/website/google-tools/creating-google-analytics-account/) is most popular, but some prefer [Matomo](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/matomo-analytics/) for in-depth customization or [Clicky](/support/web-analytics/clicky-analytics) for basic stats.

## Optimization

**Speed up your website** with a [caching plugin](/support/edu/wordpress/use-wordpress-cache-to-speed-up-your-site/) and/or [Cloudflare](/support/website/setting-up-cloudflare/) content delivery system (CDN) for better performance world-wide.

## Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

**Follow [Easy SEO](https://www.boldgrid.com/support/boldgrid-easy-seo/) advice for better visibility from potential members in [search engine results](/support/website/seo/seo-getting-started-guide/)**. Advanced users may prefer [All in One SEO](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/) or [Yoast SEO](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/yoast-seo/) instead.

### Accessibility

**Install [WP Accessibility](/support/edu/wordpress/how-to-install-wp-accessibility-wordpress-plugin/)** to make your forum easier to use for disabled users.

## Affiliate Program

Consider affiliate programs such as [Google Ads](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/hosting-affiliate-program) and our [affiliate program](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/hosting-affiliate-program) for extra cash. There are [WordPress plugins](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins-for-advertising/) to help with affiliate programs.

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