Community site or just forum site?

[chibi]

Hi, everyone!

I'm thinking about launch a site, but wondering if I should make it a community site(1.e. a social networking site) or just a forum site.

I chacked phpfox.com and this software has everything!You can create a blog, photo gallery etc in the site and of course there is a forum in it. (a forum will be a part of the community site).

I'm wondering about pros and cons about this. I thought, maybe some people who just want to join the forum don't join the site if you have to join the community too? Maybe the forum topics become slightly different than what you want it to be(become more about means of socialising with other members than means of discusiion?)? But there maybe more chance for the site to grow bigger?I don't know.

I would appreciate it if you could tell me what you think about this!

[Chris]

I'm wondering about pros and cons about this. I thought, maybe some people who just want to join the forum don't join the site if you have to join the community too?
That's a very good point. If it looks too cluttered, people may be put off.

Maybe the forum topics become slightly different than what you want it to be(become more about means of socialising with other members than means of discusiion?)?
Another very good point :)


But there maybe more chance for the site to grow bigger?I don't know. Well, there are already sites that are great for that sort of thing. If you try to offer a smorgasbord of options you may lose focus of your goal. A site that is great at one thing is much better than a site that's mediocre at several things. Also, it would become harder to maintain. What's stopping you from starting the site as a forum and then later asking the members if they'd want features like blogs?

If your goal is to promote discussion about a particular topic, then I'd say strictly a forum is the right way to go. If time goes by and users want better ways to communicate, you can always install mods or things later to add that functionality.

Just my $.02 :)

[chibi]

Thanks Chris, for your reply!

I think I'll follow your advice.:)

I actually found a good add-on tool called "Zoints Local" which you can make a Social networking site(or folder/pages) in your vbulltin site. However, as you say, I don't have to do this first!I can just start the forum and then add that script later if my members like it.:)

I am glad that you thought the points that I mentioned was good ones!

By the way, this was my first post.
I love this forum! ;)

chibi

[Odd Fact]

Start with a cetnral idea or topic of discussion. Something common that will draw people together to interact.

[mikey1090]

a forum....then make it web 2.0 style when you get traffic and members :)

[chibi]

Hi,
thanks everyone for your responces and sorry it took a while to reply.

I decided to go ahead with only a forum and will let you know when it opens!

Thanks again,
Chibi

[Scott]

Best of luck and do keep us informed on how it goes! :)

[Kaizen]

I think that there are already enough social networking sites out there, so i think that you should go for uniqueness and instead just create a forum site.

[Hycari]

I agree, you'd have myspace, facebook, and the rest to compete with. Some people would just go with myspace so that they can have one profile to maintain. I would do like Kaizen said, just start with the forum site, let the members shape it and point it in the direction it's going. If they start calling for you to implement community features, then I would say go for it then.

[D'Godown]

a forum....then make it web 2.0 style when you get traffic and members :)


Can you enlighten how to make a website look like Web 2.0? Is it just changing looks? or what?

[Scott]

Web 2.0 is a little more than just looks. As always, wikipedia explains it best here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEB_2.0).