Looking for Web hosting w/intergrated msg board

[Missy]

Is there an affordable hosting site that has a great message board/forum feature?

I need something that will allow me to create a web page and have a link to the forum.

My goal is to create a paid subscription site. It will have both free membership and paid membership ...

The forum will need to allow me to assign moderators, upload photos, videos, and the many features that most forum sites offer.

It would be awesome if it allowed creation of chatrooms that will keep logs of chats.

Any suggestions???

Thank you in advance!

[SwarmHost]

Most shared providers have Fantastico or Softaculous, which has many different automated installs for forums and other social websites.

[Artashes]

It sounds like your priority should be finding the right forum software rather than a hosting company with that feature.

You really need to find the right application to use with the features you want. As far as web hosting, any provider will be able to host it for you.

Among the best forum platforms are:
www.vbulletin.com
www.phpbb.com
www.simplemachines.org
www.invisionpower.com

[Missy]

Thank you both for your response ...

@ Swarm - Are you saying that most hosting sites provide forums?

@ Art - I want a main web page as well as a forum ... I don't want just a forum ... Am I able to link any of the listed forums to my website (example: when clicking on the forum link it will show www.mywebsite.com/forums)

[Artashes]

Let me try to explain it in simple terms.

The job of any web hosting provider is just to give you some space on the Internet (most commonly represented under your domain name) and tools to control it (such as create email addresses, databases, manage files, perform backups, view visitor statistics, etc). What you display in that space, which is basically your website, is totally up to you, as long as your content does not break any laws.

From the sound of it, you want people to first land on your website and then have a CHOICE to either read the regular website pages or click and visit a FORUM which is also installed. This is possible with EVERY web hosting provider. The difference is - some providers, as SwarmHost mentioned above, offer one-click forum application install as part of their "Fantastico" package (which is an add-on feature of cPanel control panel - a popular website management tool a lot of hosting providers offer).

However, that "Fantastico" package is limited to automatic installation of phpBB.com forum software on your website (in any "category/directory" or website location you want). If you'd like to have complete control over the type of forum software you want to work with, then my suggestion is first to go over forum applications I mentioned above, pick one you like the most, then find a web hosting provider who fits your needs and budget. ANY provider is able to offer you the ability to host a forum application.

The actual organization of your website is totally up to you and how you design/build your site to be. Whether you want people to land on your home page first, then go to your forum is in your hands alone.

[Missy]

Thank you so much for explaining that to me Art...

I have had many websites before but I never incorporated a forum on those sites so I was unsure of how to go about doing so ...

You and Swarm have been a very big help!

[Artashes]

You are most welcome. If you have any other questions, whether it is about hosting, development or marketing, we have a forum covering it. Feel free to ask at any time.