Community Software vs. Forum Software

Just a simple poll to see what you guys think could be more successful in sales this day and age.

1. Forum Software - i.e. vBulletin before it went all community based and added useless features that forums don't need.

2. Community Software - i.e. a forum but with extensive profiles and things for users to do like Facebook.

 

[mage3158]

Community software is cool, but virtually everyone has at least a facebook/myspace/google+, and there is nothing you can offer in that department that would really make a lot of people interested.

Normal forum software with a good front end will almost always be more successful.

 

Community software is cool, but virtually everyone has at least a facebook/myspace/google+, and there is nothing you can offer in that department that would really make a lot of people interested.

Normal forum software with a good front end will almost always be more successful.

It wouldn't be a new social network site, it would be software for sale.

i.e. A company could use it on their site as a social network site for their employees to keep in contact. It would be a huge part a forum, but also have extensive profiles. Imagine it as a forum identical to vBulletin with extensive profiles, an activity feed of your friends, etc.

 

[Lame]

i would say in this day and age #2 but i prefer #1.

 

[Emperor Nero]

I prefer #1. I want my forum to be a forum and my facebook to be a facebook and not a mix between the two.

 

[mage3158]

i.e. A company could use it on their site as a social network site for their employees to keep in contact. It would be a huge part a forum, but also have extensive profiles. Imagine it as a forum identical to vBulletin with extensive profiles, an activity feed of your friends, etc.

No I understand, but I can't imagine a lot of people wanting that. Forums were never meant to have that kind of social or personal aspect.

 

[Annex]

Basic forum software with mods/hacks to make it community software. You hit both markets and could possibly double dip on the community software.

 

[Sun]

Voted #1

I enjoy online communities as a whole; I tend to enjoy the customization aspect when it comes to profile and whatnot. Sythe has it balanced perfectly, in my opinion.