20 replies to this topic

[rohgan03]

I am trying to understand the recent coverage about blogs. I am not able to understand why they are getting so much attention now ....considering forums work the same way (if not better) and have always been around. Do write your opinon and correct me if I am wrong.

I started researching what might fit my site better...to put energy into starting a forum and making it active or to start a blog. Does it make a difference? I've always been active on many forums....but never on a blog....so there might be something I am missing in my point of view.

[meta]

What are your goals?

[qwerty]

Forums and blogs both provide a pretty easy way for people to create content without the need to know code, but blogs have addtional advantages when it comes to promoting them around the web by using trackbacks and blogrolls.

Think about this: it's one thing to find an article interesting and link to it from your site, but if you do it between two blogs, then send a trackback ping, you're pretty much inviting that blog's audience to come check out yours.

[Tom Philo]

Plus, what are your needs - and what are your customer needs?

Without ever having crated a BLOG, only read a few the press is enamored of them due to (IMHO)

1) Masses of people can easily (that is the key) write to them for all to see
2) Divergent points of view (good, bad, wrong, right, meaningless - all are there)
3) Search engines tend to revisit them often since they are changed more often than "static" web pages (think Google adds within BLOGs) and if 4) topical the ads are more on target thus maybe more sales
4) topical - current events driven for the person posting - real time posting possible as events unfold
5) (This is a GUESS on my part) most blogs are not copyrighted exclusivvely by the posters due to the license agreements where posted, thus no payment required to use the blogs for ads or stream elsewhere (if on their own web site then they are likely covered unless the software being used to create the blog easily reserves that right to use the material because the person is using the software)

[rohgan03]

What are your goals?

1. Get ppl to create content
2. Repeat visits

taphilo: All of that can be done through forum

Qwerty: I am not sure what "trackbacks and blogrolls" are. I'll google it right now.

[rohgan03]

Just to clarify .. I prefer our own content to be articles.

The goal is to get users to create content. Is forum better for that?

[qwerty]

"Trackback for Beginners" -- and a video too

[rohgan03]

Heres the result of my research: Please comment.

1. Use blog if you or a small group is going to be the primary topic starter.

2. Use forum if it is going to be more peer-to-peer.

3. Blogs and forums work the same for SEs. Forum software may require some work to make SE friendly. Blog software is generally SE friendly out of box.

4. Articles work the same as blogs except that people can not comment on them.


================================

1. For my site, I will not be the primary topic starter. So its best to spend effort on a forum..for me.

2. I can also launch a blog...which will allow people to comment on any articles that I get written for the site or write myself.

Please give your opinon.

[Randy]

Just my own view...

Forums are better when the goal is to get other people to create your content for you. Meaning you may get the ball rolling with some of your own comments, but then you want an extended discussion to ensue. Forums are a lot more work on the administration and moderation side of things.

Blogs are a better choice --because of pings, backtracks and easier administration-- if your goal is to provide the majority of the content yourself, soliciting only brief comments from readers. They're much easier to manage, and the layout works well if you have the content to provide, or are willing to dedicate yourself writing often.

[rohgan03]

They're also a lot more work on the administration and moderation side of things.

Isnt this the same for both? Even on blog you have edit unrelevant or abusive comments. How is it more work for forum? I thought it would be less for forum since forum allows content to be in topics.

[ewc21]

Apart from Blogs and Bulletin Boards, does discussion groups such as Yahoogroups or Google groups fall in the same category? I know for a fact that they don't display in search engines.

[greatone]

Just my own view...

Forums are better when the goal is to get other people to create your content for you. 

This idea helps me a lot.. Thanks Randy

[Randy]

Isnt this the same for both? Even on blog you have edit unrelevant or abusive comments. How is it more work for forum? I thought it would be less for forum since forum allows content to be in topics.

You would think so wouldn't you?

I don't know why it is exactly, but having done a good bit of both I've always found Blogs a lot easier to moderate.

I think part of that reason is that user contributions are a lot shorter with blogs, as a general rule, when compared to forum posts. So it's a lot quicker process to determine if something really belongs or is simply spam. Plus, again very generally speaking, people seem to visit blogs to Read rather than post. So you end up with less policing as a general rule.

[-=d00d=-]

I read a bunch of articles on blog and ping today and it seems that this is a proven technique for getting a NEW site spidered rapidly. I wonder if this is considered blackhat SEO or if the engines will be filtering this technique out in the future?

[torka]

Hey, d00d!

I don't think so, on either count. Remember, simply getting indexed isn't the same as getting ranked. Using ping to identify and spider a new site is basically just an automated version of the "submit your site" link that Google already has.

In the case of "submit your site", there's some question as to whether it actually does anything, while with blog/ping, it's pretty clear that it does lead to quick spidering. But in both cases, it's simply a way to let Google know you're out there, not a way to manipulate the rankings in your favor in any way.

My

--Torka