If you already have the website, but consider that it lacks real-life communication or just want to gather supporter people, then you should make a forum.
Process is simple, however, you have two paths of its creation, depending on whether you own HTML (hypertext markup language) and PHP (the scripting programming language applied during creation of the websites and web pages). If are available for you, at least basic knowledge of these languages, you will be able to make a forum with own hands, completely independently.
For creation of a forum you will need to install at yourself the following set Apache 2 + SSL, PHP 5, MySQL 5, phpMyAdmin. By means of these applications you will be able to create the website (or a forum as in our case) at yourself on the computer without Internet connection, to test it and to debug. It is the best of all to install all this one package, for example such as Denver. So you will avoid problems with compatibility of versions.
After installation of a package you will have a WebServers folder on that disk where you installed it. Using phpMyAdmin, create the new database with which we and should work. Select the name for it and start downloading of a forum. After you decided on the version of a forum and downloaded archive, unpack files from it in the WebServershomelocalhostsubdomain folder. We begin installation, following indications of the program. We enter a server name, the name of the database, the login and the password and a prefix of tables in the database. We are connected to the database, we fill the contact information (the main thing is the e-mail address as notifications will come to it to you).
After completion of installation before you there will be a page with the Enter button by means of which it will be possible to enter into the center of administration of a forum.
If you do not own even programming elements, then you can use any of free services which provide ready forums. You should select only the forum engine, design and a name. The convenient step-by-step instruction will help you to understand settings and to create starting filling of a forum.
Now it was necessary to invite users and to help them to start communication – and your forum is ready!