Publishing a research journal online involves several steps and adherence to specific guidelines to ensure quality, credibility, and compliance with academic standards. Here are the essential rules and steps to publish a research journal online:

1. Define the Scope and Aim of the Journal:

• Scope: Determine the subject areas the journal will cover.
• Aim: Outline the journal's mission, objectives, and target audience.

2. Establish an Editorial Board:

• Recruit Experts: Gather a team of reputable scholars and experts in the field.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Define roles such as Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and reviewers.

3. Create Submission Guidelines:

• Manuscript Requirements: Specify formatting, length, and structure (e.g., abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references).
• Submission Process: Outline the submission process, including how to submit, deadlines, and required documents (e.g., cover letter, conflict of interest statements).

4. Develop a Peer Review Process:

• Review Model: Decide on a review model (single-blind, double-blind, or open review).
• Review Criteria: Establish criteria for evaluating submissions (e.g., originality, significance, methodology, clarity).
• Reviewer Selection: Create a process for selecting and inviting reviewers.

5. Set Up an Online Platform:

• Journal Website: Create a user-friendly and professional website.
• Submission System: Implement an online submission and tracking system (e.g., Open Journal Systems).
• Archiving: Ensure the journal is indexed and archived for long-term access (e.g., DOAJ, PubMed Central).

6. Adopt Ethical Standards:

• Publication Ethics: Follow guidelines such as COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).
• Authorship Criteria: Define criteria for authorship and contributions.
• Conflict of Interest: Establish a policy for disclosing conflicts of interest.

7. Acquire an ISSN and DOI:

• ISSN: Obtain an International Standard Serial Number for the journal.
• DOI: Register Digital Object Identifiers for individual articles for permanent identification.

8. Ensure Open Access Compliance:

• Licensing: Use appropriate licensing (e.g., Creative Commons licenses) for open access.
• Funding: Consider publication fees or funding options to support open access if applicable.

9. Promote the Journal:

• Indexing: Apply for indexing in major databases (e.g., Index of Urdu Journals).
• Marketing: Use social media, academic networks, and conferences to promote the journal.

10. Manage and Sustain the Journal:

• Regular Issues: Ensure timely publication of issues (e.g., quarterly, biannually).
• Quality Control: Maintain high-quality standards through continuous monitoring and improvements.
• Feedback: Collect and incorporate feedback from authors, reviewers, and readers.

Tools and Platforms:

• Journal Management Software: Consider platforms like Open Journal Systems (OJS), ScholarOne, or Editorial Manager.
• Digital Repositories: Use platforms like arXiv or institutional repositories for additional visibility.

Additional Resources:

• Guidelines and Standards: Familiarize yourself with standards from organizations like COPE, ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors), and WAME (World Association of Medical Editors).
• Professional Associations: Join associations relevant to your field to stay updated on best practices and networking opportunities.

By following these steps and adhering to established guidelines, you can effectively publish and manage a reputable online research journal.