NOTICE


This is just a personal opinion on these matters, please do not flame if you do not agree with these, instead, post what changes should be made.



Starting your own server

Starting a server is pretty simple enough these days. With so many tutorials, even a 10 year old could start one. How you start out is a key compentent to start a successful server. A server can not just be loaded up and done. The Startup period begins with Day 1 to Month 3. The average failed server closes after the 3rd month due to common reasons as lack of players, no income from donations, lack of adminstration. The reasons can go on and on. The main topic of this is to set up the basic line of your server within the first 3 months. At this time, you should be doing the following: Building your spawn. With building your spawn, make sure that everything is close by. (Players hate walking 100+ blocks just to read a sign.) However, do not overcrowded your spawn with signs. Ways to prevent this is using plugins such as Essentials. With essentials, you can list your rules on the /rules command. A simple kit sign, a few warps to important locations and the main basic rules is all you truly need for a spawn. Additionally, a server needs a name. A nameless server never goes very far : /


The next step in start up is what is the main basis of your server. Every server needs a goal for its players to reach. For PvP servers, the players try to create the strongest factions, destroy their enemies and so forth. Some server may be for just having fun with personal friends. All that matters is having some reason for its existence. Without reason, there is no existence.

Still with me? Exactly. You are off to a great start. Now, with some servers, such as Prison, Survival, PvP, Minigames & Pixelmon, you will need some sort of staff to help run it. Let's be honest, you will not be on your server 24/7, able to answer questions, rollback griefs, dealing with spammers and just dealing with the annoyance. Now, with a staff position, there should be ranks, divided the staff into certain jobs to prevent confusion. Such ranks could be Helper (Assisting new players and being the FAQ for them), along with Admins (Rule Enforcers). This is just an example. Some server prefer less, some more. This is completely up to you.

Now, that you have your spawn built, your goal picked out and your staff is ready to go, now it's time to promote your server.
There are several ways to do this, this is up to you to decide what you will use.

Voting

Be sign up for certain sites and using plugins such as Votifier, you can set it up so your players will do the promoting for you. I personally like to give a little gift for each vote, rewarding my players for taking the time to vote and help promote the server just a little.  There is a few sites that are quite popular. Those would be PlanetMinecraft, Minestatus & MinecraftServerList (MCSL).

Forums

A slightly slower, but more personal way would be to make a forum. Keep this forum up to date is a busy job, but players tend to flow those servers that have a forum so they can promote their ideas, feel like their words are heard. Voting above and forums work great together.

Spamming & Promoting on other server

This is possibly, the WORST way to advertise your server. It will not only give your server a terrible name, but only promote griefers to come and destroy your hard work, players will think your server must be desperate for players & if you don't have great DDOS protection, your server will be under attack for days, maybe even weeks from one server spam promotion. NEVER DO THIS EVER!

Running your own server

Here you are, 3 months in and your server seems to be getting a stable flow of players, some of them are regulars at this point. others are just checking you out (which is what you want.) Some regulars tell you that they would like some more content for the server. There is so many ways to go with this, but here are my personal opionions on the matter.

New Content

Depending on your server, look into certain plugins or make your own plugins (Some people can, some can't)

Example: Running a survival server, I suggest getting a plugin called Catacombs. It generates great realistic, sometime, difficult & challenging dungeons. Not only you will fight mobs as you descend the levels of your dungeons but it automatically generates great treasure chests for your players to collect. The plugin even has a config option to allow a button to generate at the end of the dungeon and allow your players to reset the dungeon themselves or place a cooldown timer to automatically reset at a certain time. This plugin gave all of players for my servers hours and hours of content. I only add a few new dungeons every few months and they love them.

Basically, find what content your playerbase and yourself will love and use it :D

Now running a server is not only getting plugins and players, you will need eventually upgrade your server with more RAM, better DDOS protection, possibly investing in SSD (Solid State Drive)

It's fine to start a server from a small tower (give it a GB or 2, using your own internet connection. That's how i started out personally) but you will need have a strong system when your server goes vital and everyone wants to be on it.

This stage lasts from the 3rd month to about the 2nd year (Make sure to have a special event for your 1st year anniversary :P)

Maintaining your server

This is the final stage. Your server is running smoothly. Your players are always having fun. Your staff is ruining the server of troublemakers. At this point, you just need to sure that server's bill (if any) are paid in full. I strongly suggest that you have some backup funds after your bills are paid for, just in case you are short at some point. As long as your bills are fully paid, you can look into more upgrades, possibly a second server with a different theme. Personally, I run a multiworld server that gives players the feel of freedom with the server, along with a Pixelmon Survival for those who love Pixelmon: The Mod.

If your server has lasted to this point, you are one of the few who have a very stable server and it will go well as long as you continue to follow these steps and finally, the most important rule of all of these stages, ALWAYS respect your staff and players equally, because without them, you wouldn't have a popular server.

Thank you for reading

Quakthorn (Server Owner: Knights of Nexus / Swords of Justice)