On today's internet, forums make up just a fraction of online communities. A popular fraction but still they are just a fraction. People can create groups on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn and form communities within those services. You also have sites such as Ning that provide complete social networking architectures and communities. So why focus "Admin Addict" on forum administration?
Interesting thought. Are you thinking more along the lines of online communities? Or maybe internet all together?
Well different online communities and helping people run them. Not covering the internet as a whole. Running a forum based community isn't much different than running a popular Yahoo Group for example.
This is a very interesting thought and I think if approached properly can allow us to expand our horizons and become a much broader community catering to a wider (but still relevant) audience. However, other than forums, Yahoo Groups, and Ning, what are some other popular community-solutions that we could focus on? I'm not really even experienced with communities other than forums.
Like he said in the first post, Facebook, LinkedIn, even MySpace. I tell ya what, alot of people look down their noses at MySpace, consider it insignificant, a "teeny-bopper" place, etc. But according to latest stats, MySpace is now more than 50% adults, over 30, and is a very good market for outreach. I've gotten some business from there, so I don't discount it at all.
Well how would one go about catering to such a diverse group community managers? Create a section for each type? Reduce the use of the term "forum" and replace it with "community" or "group"?
I would go with the later myself. The ideas someone has about running a community on vBulletin applies to phpBB, Ning, Facebook, etc... Segregating people into sections would segregate your answers as well.
So we focus more on "communities". This would allow us to have a broader range of topics to write about on the blog. It would also make it easier to find willing writers, not necessarily having to write about forums. We would be open to a wider range of members, and discussions on the forum as well. A slight revision of the forum structure and maybe overall aim that we like to imply to our visitors sounds like all we would need to change, but I'm not sure how to go about it, if we did.
We've already begun implementing "Online Community" over "Forum". And really, that's the way it is. People spend countless hours on the forums, get their news, their gossip, and simply shoot the shit. It's like a 24/7 hangout, but on the internet, and that's why many like it. What surprises many people, is how friendly some forums can be. I've heard alot of members say how they had their eyes opened by our forums and how they never felt more comfortable in an online community. You just gotta make your site as cozy as possible and people will stay.
I agree. "Community" would serve you well with the long term success of this site. If you limit yourself to 'forums', then you would exclude those social networking communities such as Ning or Facebook, etc. Great suggestion Wayne Luke!
and since the name of your site doesn't limit you to either vB or forums, you have the ideal opportunity to "broaden your horizons" so to speak.
Great point Peggy As a matter of fact, I wonder if the name of the site will cause some Bosses with a "thing" for Secretaries to visit (Get it, Admin = common term for Administrative Assistant or Secretary :nana: )
