I couldn't find anything while searching, but I am trying to find out if there are practices or methods to create an aestically pleasing forum? As a forum owner, how do you obtain and keep people engaged? As there ways to market your forum that are considered rude or intrusive, like posting it in other forums?

These might be age old questions but I was hoping those experienced could share what has or has not worked for them.

Thank you in advance.

At UBBDev.com they have a forum just for what you asked about. Some topics are a little dated but still hold true today.
Here is one post that may interest you.

Ruben, thank you ever so much. This is exactly what I was looking for. This site should be a sticky, I am sure there are many newbies looking for same info.

Thanks again,

Chuck

I have been trying to push for a link in the "Site Links" bar ...