Strategies for discovering active niche discussion hubs
Does anyone else find it increasingly difficult to find active message boards using standard search engines? It feels like the first few pages of results are always dominated by the same few massive social sites or "top 10" lists that haven't been updated since 2019. I am looking for the actual hubs—the places where the enthusiasts and professionals hang out to solve technical problems. How do you all go about mapping out a new niche when you are starting from scratch?

I have a similar workflow. I tend to look for boards that have a dedicated "resources" or "knowledge base" section. When you find a good links forum it usually categorizes communities by their specific expertise, which is a lifesaver. I’ve discovered some of my favorite technical communities that way—places I never would have found on my own. Once you find one good board, you can often find others by seeing where the users there are cross-posting.