What do you when engagement on your forum is dominant on a particular section of the forum?

[Trush Jodie]

A particular forum that I am a member of just had to remove a particular sub forum because people were posting more on that section. They had to completely remove the section to encourage people to engage with other sections of the forum.

Do you think that is the right approach to get other sub forums active on a forum?

 

[kit_hung]

That’s definitely an interesting strategy.
It sounds like the forum was trying to balance engagement across different sections, but removing the most active sub-forum is a bold move.

On one hand, it could push people to explore other areas of the forum, which might create a more balanced community. But on the other hand, there’s a risk that members might feel frustrated or disengaged if their favorite section is suddenly gone. Some might even leave altogether.

A gentler approach could have been encouraging discussions in other sub-forums by introducing themed events, cross-posting discussions, or even rewarding participation in the less active sections. That way, the community keeps its momentum without feeling like their space was taken away.

What’s been the reaction so far—are members branching out, or are they frustrated by the change?

 

[eLdavis]

Yes i think it's an okay strategy, but it can also backfire as some members might not even try to put in effort in posting on other sections. They can also look for ways to make other sections more attractive, after removing the said section.

 

[arunima25]

You have done what you thought was right. But then it might not be liked by others and the strategy might be backfired. Maybe many users loved that section and were more active there. Removing it all together might be discouraging and many many would stop visiting the forum. How about giving more incentive for the less active ones and reducing the incentive on this forum for a while? That would be better than removing it all together.