A blog, or a forum?

16 years ago

I have a small gaming forum, but it is for fun, not making money.
Kim
Edit: I also have another small one that was for magic that I have let go stale over the years, but I think I could start bringing it back and make soem money off it now.

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VinceNouvel

16 years ago

If you want to build a community.. Forum will be so much better.. Both can be used in any type of business. It really depends on how you want to use them.

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Jason Zalesky

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Ricter

Control seems to be the big variable here.

With a blog, you're mostly in charge, the comments are attached to your posts, so you lead the dance. Your readers have less "power".

With a forum, your guests can run a bit wilder. You still have the final word, but if you stand back, they can really take off. They have more power.

Do you run a forum anywhere? What kind of business do you think a forum is better suited to?

Why not build a blog that has a forum with it?

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Ricter

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Jason Zalesky

Why not build a blog that has a forum with it?

One could but, isn't that a bit redundant? I mean, if I want to contribute something that would go in a blog entry, why couldn't I just start a new thread?

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Justin Jordan

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Ricter

One could but, isn't that a bit redundant? I mean, if I want to contribute something that would go in a blog entry, why couldn't I just start a new thread?

There's a lightly different effect on readers with a blog, to say nothing of it being easier to push people towards it.

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Ricter

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Justin Jordan

There's a lightly different effect on readers with a blog, to say nothing of it being easier to push people towards it.

Justin, could you elaborate on "easier to push people towards it"? It's just a url, isn't it?

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Justin Jordan

16 years ago

Originally Posted by Ricter

Justin, could you elaborate on "easier to push people towards it"? It's just a url, isn't it?

It is, but it's been my experience (as both a blogger and mod at a couple of forums) that people are more likely to read a blog post and then drift than to go to a forum and read posts. It just seems to be a more palatable format for people surfing and what not.

Some subjects lend themselves better to forums than blogs, I think, and vice versa.

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jhongren

16 years ago

Do you run a forum anywhere? What kind of business do you think a forum is better suited to?

Hi Ricter,

Blog or forums: they both need to go through the same phases of development.

1. set up
2. traffic generation
3. marketing
4. monetisation
5. building a community
6. sustaining
7. liberation yourself off it
8. automating your business system

As for what kind of business system for a forum, it can be:

1. paid membership
2. paid threads for sponsors
3. image ads for sponsors
4. subscribers' meet up and promoting of related products/ services

(You own a list and there is so much potential you can do from selling of ebooks, to audios, videos, digital products to physical products and so on.)

The sky is the limit.

Cheers,
John

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Ricter

16 years ago

Originally Posted by jhongren

Hi Ricter,

Blog or forums: they both need to go through the same phases of development.

1. set up
2. traffic generation
3. marketing
4. monetisation
5. building a community
6. sustaining
7. liberation yourself off it
8. automating your business system

As for what kind of business system for a forum, it can be:

1. paid membership
2. paid threads for sponsors
3. image ads for sponsors
4. subscribers' meet up and promoting of related products/ services

(You own a list and there is so much potential you can do from selling of ebooks, to audios, videos, digital products to physical products and so on.)

The sky is the limit.

Cheers,
John

I kind of feel like I've been caught by my boss, lol. Hi John! Glad to hear you say that bit about the same development phases for both, since I'm currently using your blogging product! Love it, by the way, good work.

I've always loved forums, so even while reading your blogging ebook I'm noticing that the principles there can be applied to a forum, as you said.

John, I haven't seen any of your books but the first one, so before I continue reading, and before I begin blogging, can you see any reason why a person cannot, or should not, build a forum using your development phases as laid out for a blog?

Rick

PS: no, I won't be wanting a refund either way.

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jhongren 16 years ago

Hi Ricter,

Thanks for your vote of confidence in my book.

I feel a person should build a blog PLUS a forum no matter which one first.

We are building a business model after all and we must be able to scale it.

A dog blog with overwhelming response in the comments can make use of a forum so that readers can bring their discussion there.

Likewise, a forum owner can make a blog and put in all the highly discussed threads as contents for his blog.

So it works both ways.

Cheers,
John
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SusanUSA

16 years ago

I sell my eBooks on a blog . . . and my subject matter (which has many health issues linked to it) requires that I have the increased control of the blog format. When a question is asked of my on the blog, I do a lot of research to make sure I give a quality answer. If I don't know for sure, I tell the reader to contact their health professional.

A forum would allow to too many people to leave their opinions which could misguide others. I know I can moderate all that, but it still has too many risks.

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ShayB

16 years ago

I have blogs and forums.

I moderate my forums, but no matter how quickly I pull down a spammer's or nutjob's post, someone has seen it. I cannot be online 24/7.

For my blogs, I moderate all comments. It only takes one person to really be a PITA and wreak havok on your blog with comments!

(And, yes, I have had it happen. Ugh.)

The forums can take on a nice life of their own and develop a nice community, but you still have to watch them.

JMHO

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Angela V. Edwards

16 years ago

Yeah, I agree. Forums can be great communities where people can communicate with each other. Blogs are more like a dialogue; you and the visitor. It just depends on how in-depth you want the communication to be. Do you want it to be mostly you and your visitors or would you like everybody to have a chance to chat with one another?

Originally Posted by Shay60654

I have blogs and forums.

I moderate my forums, but no matter how quickly I pull down a spammer's or nutjob's post, someone has seen it. I cannot be online 24/7.

For my blogs, I moderate all comments. It only takes one person to really be a PITA and wreak havok on your blog with comments!

(And, yes, I have had it happen. Ugh.)

The forums can take on a nice life of their own and develop a nice community, but you still have to watch them.

JMHO

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Ricter 16 years ago

Angela, the idea of everyone chatting with one another while I simply moderate when necessary is fascinating. So many ideas, so much growth potential!

Shay, the idea of an unacceptable post sitting in plain view for hours, while I sleep, and being spotted by my paying customers is frightening to say the least.
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- ShayB 16 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Ricter
  
  Shay, the idea of an unacceptable post sitting in plain view for hours, while I sleep, and being spotted by my paying customers is frightening to say the least.
  
  It is not fun, I assure you!!
  
  If you have advertisers, it can be a sticky situation explaining why the post was left up for 6-8 hours (No, you aren't supposed to sleep. LOL)
  
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  "Fate protects fools, little children, and ships called Enterprise." ~Commander Riker
  
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Ouroboros

16 years ago

You can always moderate forum posts as well.

Maybe the question should be a blog, a forum, or a social community? Why should they be exclusive of each other, why not have two or all three?

Your product or niche will tell you which is best and you can phase out the others. Test...Test...Test.

Steve

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rocker123

16 years ago

On my part, I would love forum. Coz it has a series of discussions on the board.

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Solidsnake

Banned 16 years ago

Forums are hard to promote but less maintenance... monitoring members' activity is easier than updating a blog with new articles...

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rocker123 16 years ago

yeah that says it all.
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logosi

16 years ago

I've always kind of thought of a forum as a club (group) of like minded individuals. Where a blog is my journal where I can be me. That's oversimplified of course, but speaks to my heart on the matter.

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jhongren 16 years ago

Nevertheless, you should be building a community of people interested in your stuff....a blog can be as lonely as a personal diary just for personal use or it can be a hot blog which everyone knows...in this case, it is again a group of people (a community who either loves or hates you) still a community after all.

It applies similar to a forum....

Community is self-sustainable and gets you going strong and long.

John
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DanGTD

16 years ago

I think cool products need a blog, first and foremost.
The forum is more for support issues and rarely forms a community that self-sustains, with new and interesting topics.

But if the business idea is not a product, but to build a community to monetize by ads, both are needed.

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Kevin Koop

15 years ago

I have a lot of blogs and a couple of forums (only for paying members, and not open to the public).

They both have their purpose but which you should begin with really depends on what your "end goal" is.

If you enjoy writing (and if people enjoy reading what you write) I would recommend starting with a blog and then adding a forum when the time is right.

Personally, I have found that activity can die down pretty quick on forums and then
you end up with something that doesn't draw much traffic or add much value.

Just my two cents.

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webmatic

15 years ago

Forums are more social and little bit hard to manage in the start but once you get hold of it, you don't need to do anything except for managing few ongoing stuff.
Blog is easy to start with and easy to get hold on and not much social but you can make it social by getting repeating visitors who will interact with you via healthy comments.
I personally prefer blogs.
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easylearning

15 years ago

If you use CPM, having a forum will be the best option because you will have a lot of traffic but if you use CPA, a blog is better.

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Sfrew 15 years ago

Thanks to everyone who answered...I learned a lot just reading this thread.
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- Eric Lorence 15 years ago
  
  Public forums are a lot of work, and for those with few webmaster skills...overwhelming.
  
  Public forums built on free scripts are easily hacked, and under constant attack from hackers and spammers.
  
  I think if you need to ask... stay away from forums.
  
  The ones that build and run forums are usually for a specific purpose, or an important hobby, or specific social group.
  
  Thanks
  
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A blog, or a forum?

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