When I started this site ("way back" in 2000 - hah), I really didn't know what I wanted it to grow up to be. Since then, a small community has really grown up around this site. People have come and gone, but there has always been that loyal audience out there that likes what I do here. Well, this new article from SitePoint talks about building that community further, working with the viewers of your site to make it as pleasant and useful as you can.

In the Community Building Primer, the author talks mainly about the use of forums in your site, and how they can help or harm the appearance of your site. I mean, think about it - how many sites have you been to that have a load of forums, but only two or three of them are really in use? It's a bit of a turn-off, and drives more people away wondering if they should come back. No posts equals no community. (Another reason why I'm glad that the PHPDN Unified Forums are doing so well).

So, follow the advice of this author, and don't add a forum section to your site unless there's really a need - it might do more harm than good.