BLog vs. Forum

**KeysToFlorida** · 06-18-2005, 11:56 AM

I am looking at adding a capacity to my website that will allow myself and others provide content about the local area.

I have participated in a number of forums over the past, but only recently started evaluating BLOGS.

If I go with adding a Forum format then I am looking at some of the following type topic areas:

General Topics
Fishing near Juno Beach
Surfing
Dining in Juno Beach
Places to stay
Things to do in Juno Beach
Juno Beach and the surrounding area nightlife

Real Estate
Real Estate questions
Rentals

Just in the starting phase and thinking that with the Blog setup - usually a more attractive interface would still allow me similiar capability.

Any feedback from those of you that are in the know would be appreciated.

Thanks

**Real Estate Forum** · 06-21-2005, 03:51 PM

I can only encourage you to have both but the question is what you are into? Are you better in writing things by yourself at your own time or interacting in online communities and forums? Some people are good at writing and they should definitely blog. Others are better at keeping conversations going and starting them to begin with and there are definitely advantages to having a forum then.

It all depends on your own strategy, the way that you like to work online.

Forums work better for me, I have a hard time getting blog entries out there.

That is why I have started this place

**Chief Tutor** · 06-21-2005, 04:02 PM

I would agree that utilizing both if possible is the best way to go. Blogs are more of a one way communication tool, while forums are a two way tool.

Each one offers their positives and negatives. The most important aspect of either is that you need to manage them and when I say manage them, keep them active because they are both useless unless someone is dedicated to keeping them up.

Just my two cents.

**KeysToFlorida** · 06-21-2005, 06:13 PM

Thanks!

I went ahead and created the forum using phpBB2 - I may end up changing forum software. Any recommedations here?

I have found several other local vendors to commit to participate in their respective parts of the forum.

I have a fishing shop for fishing...

I think I have a bicycle shop for bikes...

and I am confident that one of the surf shops will moderate the surf forum.

Of course myself and other realtors in the office will monitor the real estate section.

I am looking at using word press for the blog and not promoting it until I have been successful at posting regularly.

**Real Estate Forum** · 06-21-2005, 06:19 PM

I personally recommend vBulletin for forums and wordpress for blogs

**Chief Tutor** · 06-22-2005, 08:52 AM

I have looked at a number of blogs and have seen word press promoted on the internet. What I like about word press is the number of themes that are available. What I don't like about it is that for the average user, they don't have a HTML editor built into the product....but I am sure that is just a few releases away.

**ResaleBroker** · 06-22-2005, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by SiteTutor

I personally recommend vBulletin for forums and wordpress for blogs

These are my recommendations also.

What I've done for one of my sites is use WordPress for articles and vBulletin for the community. The two (2) can be set up to work with one another.

Here's an example of a customized WordPress page combined with vBulletin functions.

**ResaleBroker** · 06-22-2005, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by SiteTutor

So that people's blog entries can be displayed in all of my forums.

That's on my agenda too!

**frobn** · 06-29-2005, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by KeysToFlorida

I am looking at adding a capacity to my website that will allow myself and others provide content about the local area.

I have participated in a number of forums over the past, but only recently started evaluating BLOGS.

If I go with adding a Forum format then I am looking at some of the following type topic areas:

General Topics
Fishing near Juno Beach
Surfing
Dining in Juno Beach
Places to stay
Things to do in Juno Beach
Juno Beach and the surrounding area nightlife

Real Estate
Real Estate questions
Rentals

Just in the starting phase and thinking that with the Blog setup - usually a more attractive interface would still allow me similiar capability.

Any feedback from those of you that are in the know would be appreciated.

Thanks

I hadn't seen your post and just posted something similar on another thread. I think it is a great idea. It would be an enjoyable way to reciprocate links. If anyone would like help in setting up a blog, I will be happy to help.

**Chief Tutor** · 06-29-2005, 12:35 PM

In our ongoing attempt to grow the forum, and grow the power of the forum which will also help all those participating in the forum, for a limited time, we have decided to allow people to set up real estate related blogs on www.realestateforum.com

They would be on a subdomain depending on the state you are located. We will be using the word press blog. If you are interested. Let us know.

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