Hm..

So what do you do?

Do you do a research, plan stuff? What exactly do you do before starting your Online Community, let aside Software + Host + Domain.

Please post...

Thank you

Reference some ideas and experiences
building a professional website (buy hosting, domain...)
Advertising (instroduce some friends, join some forums to announce my site, do anything to advertise my site possibly...)
The most thing you need is prestige, once you're honest, people can lean on you.

Need a lot of patience.

Read this:
http://www.platinax.co.uk/19-seo-book-aaron-wall/

Then get advice here:
http://www.theadminzone.com

A few friends and colleagues to join at the beginning and to be interested to discuss on different topics on-line (if the question is about forum community).
The empty forums are very hard to attract new members.

__________________
MBM | Review your host | Know Vista?

You could write articles on the topic your forum is focused on and encourage them to click on your signature line