forum or blog?

[Penguino]

I think that a blog attracts a user's attention quicker than a forum. It's easier to look at a blog and determine whether or not it is active, and what kinds of things are being talked about. With forums, it requires a bit more work to look around and see if it is worthwhile to stay around or not.

[Wolverine]

My vote is for forums. I think they encourage participation to a wider group of people.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Wolverine

My vote is for forums. I think they encourage participation to a wider group of people.

Do they?
When you visit a newly created forum, you don't join because they have nothing to join for, correct?

When you join an old forum, with lots of posts and history, the amount of posts are overwhelming and its hard to get started there, correct?

Then you have the many posts (if there is) in a cliche-kind of order, sometimes you ant be bothered reading through all that - I know a lot of people who can't be.

The thing about blogs is that they are displayed in (generally) an easy to view static-like webpage, and this is a great attraction.
Not only this, but it isnt cluttered by signatures, avatars and other wonderful images of flashy anime .gifs.

Also, with blogs you can offer to allow other people to have their own blog based off your blog.
Incase alarm bells havent gone off, this screams SEO
More content = more hits.

There are lots of other things, but in a nutshell, blogs are generally more cleaner and easier to view and read, where as forums are a little more difficult.

[Wolverine]

When you visit a newly created forum, you don't join because they have nothing to join for, correct?

Why would I join anything that has nothing to join for?

When you join an old forum, with lots of posts and history, the amount of posts are overwhelming and its hard to get started there, correct?

Incorrect. I don't even understand why an established forum would be hard to get started. It's easier than a newer forum. I don't get overwhelmed because at the bottom of the stats there is a bigger number of total posts for the site. More activity and responses encourages participation for all sorts of reasons.

Then you have the many posts (if there is) in a cliche-kind of order, sometimes you ant be bothered reading through all that - I know a lot of people who can't be.

I have no idea where you are coming from. One can look in a forum that interests them and browse or start topics to their delight. They can also Search and take advantage of some great information already available, or see someone who shares their needs or views.

The thing about blogs is that they are displayed in (generally) an easy to view static-like webpage, and this is a great attraction.

To me they are boring, not interactive enough. It's too much like a newspaper. I don't feel the community thing as much, either.

Not only this, but it isnt cluttered by signatures, avatars and other wonderful images of flashy anime .gifs.

Some sites are, some aren't. Depends on the site.

Also, with blogs you can offer to allow other people to have their own blog based off your blog.

Some may like that but it bores me just to think about that, personally.

Incase alarm bells havent gone off, this screams SEO
More content = more hits.

I don't see how a blog inherently has better exposure abilities than a forum.

There are lots of other things, but in a nutshell, blogs are generally more cleaner and easier to view and read, where as forums are a little more difficult.

You must be on some bad forum sites. Your analogy is like saying a simple card store is better because it is cleaner and easier to see stuff, verses a car dealership, stereo place, or restaurant. It doesn't make it better. It can be better, but it can also be less interesting, fun, and encouraging of participation.

Encouraging participation was the comment I responded to. Not which is simpler. If all I wanted simple I would read pamphlets.

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by Wolverine

Why would I join anything that has nothing to join for?

er.. i stated that.
I hate how people repeat me; ask soapnet from KH.

Incorrect. I don't even understand why an established forum would be hard to get started. It's easier than a newer forum. I don't get overwhelmed because at the bottom of the stats there is a bigger number of total posts for the site. More activity and responses encourages participation for all sorts of reasons.

Umm...
An established forum does not 'need to get started'. Though I assume your referring to a viewer, just like I was.
What I was simply saying, is that when it comes to larger forums, like sythe and TAZ, then your going to need to work a little harder to make your presence known. Where as with a smaller community, have a pretty pink signature and everyone knows you. (that was a dry joke, dont rebut that comment)

I have no idea where you are coming from. One can look in a forum that interests them and browse or start topics to their delight. They can also Search and take advantage of some great information already available, or see someone who shares their needs or views.

Easier said then done.
You go to a brand new forum, and tell me how easy it is to stare and read through a shitload of posts before finally joining the community.
In some cases, with the massive amount of content, it can be hard to truely understand whats going on, and if your worried about your getting flamed by the veterans or wanna-be veterans, youll be reluctant to post.

To me they are boring, not interactive enough. It's too much like a newspaper. I don't feel the community thing as much, either.

TBH, I dont think there is a real community thing to a blog.
I fully understand where your coming from in terms of the boring aspect. I personally like blogs when I wish to read something like a tutorial, development journal or something like a news headline.
Reason being is that its not cluttered by the community aspect, and I can cut straight to the point the authors trying to present.

Some sites are, some aren't. Depends on the site.

The sites that arent generally block images in signatures.
However, i do know that there are a lot of forums out there with the massive image thing, I was simply utilizing a stereotype.

Some may like that but it bores me just to think about that, personally.

That point only comes down to a matter of interest.
If your interested in blogging, its generally a smarter idea to blog on behalf of a bigger website to save you the hassle of promoting your site and what not.

I don't see how a blog inherently has better exposure abilities than a forum.

I see how I came across that way, I was simply trying to point out that offering other people blogs through your site can increase SEO.
Forums have a better SEO then blogs in a lot of cases, and I know that.

You must be on some bad forum sites. Your analogy is like saying a simple card store is better because it is cleaner and easier to see stuff, verses a car dealership, stereo place, or restaurant. It doesn't make it better. It can be better, but it can also be less interesting, fun, and encouraging of participation.

No, its nothing like that.
I cant really think of an analogy to help here, but its not that, though I do understand what your saying.

Encouraging participation was the comment I responded to. Not which is simpler. If all I wanted simple I would read pamphlets.

My argument wasnt that it increased participation, I didnt really have something like that for my post.
If anything, it is to state why a blog would be more beneficial for a more professional site then a forum.

[mh0825]

Blogs are great, especially wordpress. Enables quick indexing and better keyword targeting. Once you get your subscriber base, open a forum.

[Wolverine]

What I was simply saying, is that when it comes to larger forums, like sythe and TAZ, then your going to need to work a little harder to make your presence known. Where as with a smaller community, have a pretty pink signature and everyone knows you. (that was a dry joke, dont rebut that comment)

Yes, but the greater volume of people and larger exposure at a TAZ can easily make up for it.

[Wolverine]

Easier said then done.
You go to a brand new forum, and tell me how easy it is to stare and read through a shitload of posts before finally joining the community.
In some cases, with the massive amount of content, it can be hard to truely understand whats going on, and if your worried about your getting flamed by the veterans or wanna-be veterans, youll be reluctant to post.

You must have some sort of hangup with forums or something, because all you have to do is read a few topics in the forum of choice or read down the topic titles to see if the forum may apply to you. You don't have to "truly understand what is going on" just like I don't have to read all past blog entries to get the author or what is going on. You are making way too big of a deal of the fact that there are past threads available in a forum. If one is so worried about being flamed they can find a nice religious or other forum that indicates ant-flaming rules and culture. Or you take the big gamble and try it anyway, lol. Really, you are being over-dramatic about the fact that there are past posts on a site. Many join forum sites without really reading any past posts - they just get a feel by the layout, forum names, messages on the homepage from the owner, a few topics here and there maybe, etc.

[Wolverine]

I see how I came across that way, I was simply trying to point out that offering other people blogs through your site can increase SEO.

I see what you mean there. You seemed to be comparing blogs to forums though, not blogs to forums with blogs. Anyway, I am sure you are right about more content and more pages being better for SEO.

My argument wasnt that it increased participation, I didnt really have something like that for my post.

Look down a few posts and you have a post that isolated just my comment that I felt forums increase participation more that blogs. You replied with all the reasons you doubted it and were making a case for blogs as you pointed out the claim that forums are better for participation. You wrote:

Do they?
When you visit a newly created forum, you don't join because they have nothing to join for, correct?

When you join an old forum, with lots of posts and history, the amount of posts are overwhelming and its hard to get started there, correct?

Then you have the many posts (if there is) in a cliche-kind of order, sometimes you ant be bothered reading through all that - I know a lot of people who can't be.

The thing about blogs is that they are displayed in (generally) an easy to view static-like webpage, and this is a great attraction.
Not only this, but it isnt cluttered by signatures, avatars and other wonderful images of flashy anime .gifs.

Also, with blogs you can offer to allow other people to have their own blog based off your blog.

If anything, it is to state why a blog would be more beneficial for a more professional site then a forum.

I don't see how one can make a general statement that a blog would be more beneficial for a professional site. Many many many professional sites obviously benefit better from a forum environment to service, respond, and interact with people.

[mh0825]

It depends on the site. Many could use both. Use the blog to set up all your pages and post news and the forum to have community interaction. Wordpress has great built in SEO mechanisms and gets your site indexed much quicker because of the pings.