How to make your server successful.
Recently, I have been getting hate for no apparent reason on my Minecraft server called The Codus Network, and would like to tell you how to be a better owner or member of a server that you care for. Okay so let's go through the list!


1)
Banning - Like I said before, don't ban people just because you don't like them nor blame them for the same reason, reason is that it can lower your server's popularity or respect, same goes with muting or kicking.

2)
Be able to bring respect to your players - On other servers I have realised that other owners are potentially very rude to their players; calling them names that involve profanity.
What NOT to do is do the same as that person, call your player's names, treat them as though you've been treat, respectfully, so they will consider coming back.

3)
If a person comes and asks for op, don't do it! He can automatically do anything he wants with Essentials and possibly more, for example, he can close the server anytime with just the command "/stop"!

4)
I have had this trouble before; if a person threatens to DDos your server, they're just probably playing a Hoax and don't be afraid to just ban them, mute them or whatever your punishment is, you CANNOT be afraid to punish people on your server.

5)
Another thing you can do is to set up your website throughout sites like www.Enjin.com / www.Webs.com , or even throughout your own knowledge by coding and paying a Domain registration!

6) Keep it more fun, listen to your players to see what they enjoy in a server, and see what you can do with the one you have now, it helps if you listen and then it will improve the playerbase / userbase of your server.

7)
If you plan on hosting a server from your home and expect a lot of people to come? Don't even bother thinking like that, not saying you people don't have potential but you people MUST need a hosted server from a company or someplace related to actually make something that player's want, I may be wrong but players would like it more if you hosted on a company server than your own computer.

7.1)
Donations can help a lot, but don't try to take the money for yourself, I know you've done a lot but that's pure greedy, don't do that.
Instead; use it on your server, or just save it up for a new server to achieve a network, your playerbase would grow, or your requirements would increase in time.
For example, if you kept the money, you can save it for another server or the website that you own.

8)
Advertising really helps, expecially on voting sites, such as www.PlanetMinecraft.com , just as long as you set the listing up right.

9)
Is your server a bukkit, Spigot, Cauldron or any other jar source that allows plugins?
If so, install plugins, it doesn't hurt!

I would recommend to also install plugins like CoreProtect, LogBlock and more, so you can help protect your server from trouble makers and such.

10)
Always think of a name for your server, it makes it fit well but also make sure that it isn't taken yet, so players can't get mixed up and such, or you can just be called for copyright.. You just don't know.

11)
MOTD - Message Of The Day, Seen as the message before you join the server.
Having the default is bland and annoying, but also dull.
I would advise making a cool one with a plugin called MOTDManager.

12)
Rules, you must have rules so you can catch troublemakers, if you have not then you're just going to find people complaining about being raided, griefed, hacked, more, you cannot really say and plus that it won't help you to manage your server right.

13)
If you're any good, you should have your server up and running now. But no-one's joining! Well, there's a simple reason; it needs publicity. That's where the forum comes in; if you create a forum thread for your server, you're much more likely to find people on it. But it's important your server doesn't come off as poorly-made (ha! As if, you've been reading my guide!), so you need to format it properly. You'll want the name of your server in the topic title, of course. It's not really necessary to incorporate the MOTD into the post, however. Make sure you describe your server and it's purpose in sufficient detail, and if you use a custom server script, say so. Consider putting in a status indicator; your thread won't become clogged with posts stating it's not online. A few images can help to draw in players; not only are they bright and colourful, but it makes it seem like you put a lot more effort into your forum post. It really is just that easy; anyone can do it, and it's a simple way to get more people to join your server. <Found this by "Rubrica", credit goes to him>

14)
Selecting your staff - Now, have you been on your own server which is public and someone joins and instantly asks for op just because they're from PMC?
<Heavy breathing [Took a breath to say that whole sentence]>
Well, open up applications on your website or server and accept, however I accept the people who seem to know what they're doing, the one's who seem active.
Because of this, I think if you're active, helping players and seem to know what they're doing, then they're helpful, active and shows that they want the staff rank, just need to earn it nessacarily.

Finished notes.
- Want to suggest something? Try PMing me as I am active on PMC, just try and find me and suggest it and I'll give credit.
- These are my own thoughts and some were taken off the internet, rather than that some of these ideas don't belong to me.
- Sentences that are in a small size are optional to read, like any other word in this, but not as important.