Adding a Forum to an established Website - Bad Move? (8)
Let's say you have a content rich website.
Does it make sense to add a free forum?
Pro
- bigger user engagement
- good for search rankings
Contra
- You have to maintain it
- Contain Spam
- Contribute
Of course it depends on the site.
In general good business move or more headaches than return on investment?
What about a FB group/page instead ?
@graham - VERY much depends on the site, and also on your own personal abilities. How quick and easy do you find it to write a lot of replies, manage posts, etc?
I've had mixed experiences in the past. However, if the forum starts gaining traction, it's very good for user loyalty, and as you say, also rather good for long-tail search results.
@dario
Yes a facebook page of course. All in all I don't like that I don't own the page/group, so facebook can shut down everything whenever they want.
What are some advantages of facebook groups?
@caurmen
Good points. Thanks.
What were some of the bigger obstacles to overcome? Besides enough contributing users.
Originally Posted by graham
- Joining is Faster
BTW you're right, you haven't the same amount of control as a private forum
Before I got involved with affiliate marketing, running forums was my first foray in to owning websites.
How ever much time you think you're going to need to get it up and running - and bustling with activity - multiply that by 3.
It's hard work.
You're basically trying to install a new browsing habit in the users, whereas that Facebook habit is already there.
I suppose it depends on what type of 'content rich' website you're running though. Why can't you open up the website itself to comment discussion? I think this is something that the Goog is likely to appreciate going forward. A nice combination of authority content supplemented by user submitted content.
If you're going to do a forum, you have to do it well.
I see many that are bone dry, lifeless, tumbleweed floating on by - and if anything, they hurt the website.
Thanks for chiming in, Finch!
Great points you made.
I kinda new while writing this thread, that it is not the best idea (especially time-wise). It helps to write down thoughts.
So thanks guys.
@dario
do you still have facebook groups and are making money of it?
The only FB group remaining has been converted to a "page" too, it hasn't affiliate-marketing purposes (no affiliate links) so I don't know what could happen to your page if you try to monetize it
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