Re: Forum/Chat solutions
Re: Forum/Chat solutions
- Subject: Re: Forum/Chat solutions
- From: Glenn Chase <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 12:41:02 -0600
Hi Chris,
We also opted to use phpbb as our forums solution for a number of
reasons:
- it's free, and runs like a champ on our Mac OS X 10.2 server.
- it's well supported by the open source community who developed it as
well as its large user base
- it serves as a searchable archive so we can use it as a knowledge
base as well as for conversation
- it provides a 24 hour "help desk" for members and nonmembers alike
who need assistance
- we can restrict parts of it to Members Only to post our special deals
and discounts
- with the addition of a simple "mod" we provide content via RSS feed
so our members who use news aggregators like NetNewsWire can include
our forums as part of their daily newsreading
- it allows members and nonmembers to post "classifieds" like items for
sale, consulting services needed, and such
- participating in the forums doesn't require special software or using
a proprietary application, nor any special configuration. Anyone can
read the forums, registering gets you the ability to post as well as
read messages, and if you are a dues paying member we provide access to
the Members Only area.
While I agree with a previous poster that getting people to register
and participate is not a simple task, it's not insurmountable. We found
that making content only available in the forums (like the monthly list
of special deals and discounts) draws in members, and posting expanded
information about our previous and upcoming meetings there also helps
lure visitors. Our web site traffic is up substantially due to our
forums and they go a long way to helping provide the feeling of
community and shared assistance between our "in-person" meetings.
Glenn
on 11/9/03 12:15 AM, MacUsers User Group at email@hidden
wrote:
Hi everyone, I want to know what everyone uses for chat/forums on
their
group website for your members. We use Invision Power Board for the
forum but most people do not participate since it requires a separate
membership and it gets confusing if you let everyone post messages...
I
am looking for a new chat/forum service that I could use maybe a Java
based one like the WWB chat that I could put on my site.
Any recommendations would be great, thanks!
-----
Glenn Chase <email@hidden>
President, Capitol Macintosh - Austin's Macintosh User Group
http://www.capmac.org
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