[webproducers] Re: webproducers Digest V4 #26: Discussion Board Questions

  • From: "Cortney Sellers" <cortney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 09:56:35 -0500

::backspacing second email:: 

Thanks Ari!  The caffeine hadn't set in and those were my initial thoughts
and I was just starting to write a second email getting into more detail. 

You are absolutely right with your points.  There are a lot more factors to
consider when planning community elements for a site.  Another extremely
important factor is the technical ability of your target audience.  

Some systems are much more difficult to use than others and fail if the
target audience isn't savvy enough for the system (and vice versa) ... don't
make it too simple if your site is for the geeky type.

Cortney Sellers
Interactive Technology Consultant

-----Original Message-----
From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ari Feldman
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 9:51 AM
To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [webproducers] Re: webproducers Digest V4 #26: Discussion Board
Questions

Courtney,

You mentioned good and valid points. However, having both written my
own forum/discussion software and managed online forums for
high-traffic web sites, there are three other issues to consider as
well:

1) Technical requirements

2) Customization

3) Operational requirements


Technical requirements can cover the gamut of everything from the
actual techical requirements of the discussion/community software
itself to the server/hosting environment of the site(s) they will be
deployed on.

For ex: Does it require MySQL 3.x or 4.x? Is its performance suitable
for a shared hosting environment? Etc, etc.

Customization covers the flexibility of the discussion/community
software's look and feel or "skin." Some systems are very flexible in
this regard while others are more limiting.

This is something to think about if you're concerned about seamlessly
integrated the disucssion software into a larger site rather than just
"grafting" it onto a site.

Finally, operational requirements are often overlooked. Whenever you
add   some type of community software to a web site you automatically
introduce a channel for abuse. People will do everything from post
obscene messages (because they can) to form their own unrelated
sub-communities and cyber-squat and start posting messages that have
nothing to do with the site in question.

Therefore, you need to establish a system of message management, which
may included having one or more persons allocated to moderating a
discussion forum to keep topics on track and the postings within
acceptable boundaries.

All of the above need to be considered in addition to Courney's
previous suggestions to maximize the effectiveness of the chosen
solution.



--- Cortney Sellers <cortney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Those are good choices.  Before you just decide on something, you
> should
> give thought to what do you wish your discussion board to accomplish.
>  Will
> it be a support site, community fun oriented, FAQs, or do you need
> more
> interactive tools besides just a board?  Will you want it threaded or
> conversational? Do you want features for your members to keep up with
> new
> posts? What core features do you need in the beginning?  Depending
> upon your
> goals and objectives, there are different systems, both open source
> and
> paid, available that can cover a wide range of needs.
> 
> If you would like to brainstorm the details a bit more to help narrow
> down
> the field, please feel free to contact me off list.
> 
> 
> Cortney Sellers
> Interactive Technology Consultant
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tim Slavin
> (Red
> House Communications, LLC)
> Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 12:17 AM
> To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [webproducers] Re: webproducers Digest V4 #26: Discussion
> Board
> Questions
> 
> I recommend you look at these for starters...
> 
> BlazeBoard: http://www.woltlab.info/en/produkte.php 
>  
> MiniBB: http://www.minibb.net
>  
> PunBB: http://www.punbb.org
>  
> phpBB: http://www.phpbb.com 
> 
> Also check sourceforge.net and hotscripts.com for others. Your choice
> will 
> depend a lot on your tech skills and existing website technology, of
> course.
> 
> Hope this helps...
> 
> Tim
> 
> http: //www.reachcustomersonline.com
> 
> 
> ...... Original Message .......
> On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 23:51:44 -0500 "alison lewis" 
> <lewischicken@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >Hello All!
> >
> >Can anyone recommend a good service or software for creating a =
> >discussion
> >board
> >for some of my professional websites?
> >
> >Alison Lewis
> >www.alisonlewis.com
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: FreeLists Mailing List Manager
> [mailto:ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]=20
> >Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 2:05 AM
> >To: webproducers digest users
> >Subject: webproducers Digest V4 #26
> >
> >
> >webproducers Digest  Mon, 28 Mar 2005        Volume: 04  Issue: 026
> >
> >In This Issue:
> >             [webproducers] JOB: Account/Project Manager opening
> >
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >From: "C L" <cl888@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Subject: [webproducers] JOB: Account/Project Manager opening
> >Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:48:41 -0500
> >
> >Hey all,
> >
> >There's an opening for several project manager positions at my
> company.  =
> >
> >Below is the position's job description.  Please do not respond to
> me, =
> >but=20
> >forward your resume and cover letter to Jonas Rideout, VP of =
> >Professional=20
> >Services at jonasr@xxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >chang
> >
>
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> =
> >=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> >Project Manager
> >
> >RichFX is the leading company in online visual merchandising. Our =
> >growing=20
> >list of clients includes over 100 of the most prestigious retail
> brands. =
> >We=20
> >are looking for detail-oriented, customer-focused Account / Project
> =
> >Managers
> >
> >to manage the day-to-day relationships with our customers.
> >
> >The right candidate for this role will possess the following:
> >
> >     3 - 5  years experience managing web projects
> >     Familiarity with front-end web technologies
> >     Strong technical skills; ability to interface with IT resources
> from
> >our=20
> >client's organizations
> >     Ability to support multiple clients simultaneously in a
> fast-paced=20
> >environment
> >     Desire to carry on our tradition of providing top-notch customer
> >service
> >
> >In this role, your responsibilities will include:
> >
> >     Working directly with clients to integrate our solutions with
> their=20
> >e-commerce sites
> >     Documenting the integration process
> >     Supporting the sales team
> >     Searching for new ways to improve processes
> >     Ensuring client satisfaction
> >
> >Salary for this role is approximately $65,000 plus bonus, depending
> upon =
> >
> >experience and skills - plus benefits and a clear growth path to =
> >increase=20
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> >
> >Check out our website at RichFX.com to view our solutions and our=20
> >spectacular list of clients.
> >
> >
> >
> >------------------------------
> >
> >End of webproducers Digest V4 #26
> >*********************************
> >
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public web archive
> linked 
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
>
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> 
> 
> 
> 
>
__________________________________________________________________________
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> 


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__________________________________________________________________________
Be sure to trim your posts and delete personal information such as
telephone numbers if you do not want them in the archive.

To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to 
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The WPO list is a public discussion forum with a public web archive linked at 
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