What is it about your site that makes it better than your competitors? Did you add extra features or simply have a better group of people?
On one of my sites the only real competitors are some Yahoo groups. I hear the members are real nasty... at least when they're actually talking, which apparently isn't often.
On another site, the established competitor is an old ugly phpbb. The unestablished competitor has a better domain name but still hasn't managed to set up vB properly. I think I'll win that one eventually because my site is pretty.

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Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

better group of people, the site is very friendly compared to Delawareans alternative forum....

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Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

lol I just checked on one of my "competitors" (the one wiith the good domain name that couldn't get vB set up) and the domain was parked. Made an offer on it...

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Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

ah yes, when you realized that competitor you are working against or trying to out do has thrown in the towel and packed it up.....good stuff, good luck with the domain

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Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

thanks, haven't heard back yet. Makes me wonder if they were using a nulled copy... I mean, if you pay $$$ for a vB license I'd think you'd make damn sure you got it set up and running.

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Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

that is a good point, back when nextel sites were popular you would have startups pop up everywhere trying to be the main site and all running nulled copies....it was sad, poor little newbs...

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Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

My competitors also are Yahoo Groups --- about five of them.

90% of my members came to my forum after leaving a Yahoo Group because they are so nasty over there. They say the forum style is so much more organized, more popular, and is filled with nice, caring people.
My site also has tons of fun features and contests that go on.

yeah it is easy to pull from yahoo groups with vB, good deal. I only have 1 yahoo group i could call competition. all the free cycle programs for the states are co-ordinated and run on yahoo groups. i tried to get the DE rep to use my site for it and was denied. they are kinda set in their ways..

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Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

My site is still a work in progress. As a someone new to running a site I'm still going by trial and error as to what seems to work.

There are 2 major competitors in my niche. I want to differentiate myself by:

• Being hands on involved with the forum and accessible to my members
• Offering features the others don't like articles (free), reviews, weather and classifieds
• Giving a much better environment. The two major competitors are notorious for their "flame wars." I feel I've created an environment where seasoned umpiring veterans can discuss what's important to them while being welcoming to rookies, who often want to ask questions and learn.
• I also think the site design is going to play a major part. One competitor uses nearly a default VB style and the other uses an ugly phpbb.
• I am active on the other 2 boards and try to convey a friendly knowledgeable tone there to lure members to my site. Often when one posts of their dis-satisfaction about one of the other sites I'll PM them to let them know there is an alternative.

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Warren
Umpire-Empire

sounds like a good gameplan to me. the thing is you have to know what your competitors weaknesses are and then work on being better in every aspect. looks like you are on the right track here 2dub

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Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums