Content vs Software

**theezy** · 02-12-2009, 08:50 AM

Whats more important to you? The content on a forum or the software its using?

**Moelman** · 02-13-2009, 12:21 AM

Content by far is the most important thing for a forum. I would say more forum users don't know the different between the different software at first glance...

**HighLayer** · 02-15-2009, 01:01 AM

The content is important of course. It's the main thing but also the software and the feel of the forums should be considered. I do not like dark colors and will not stay active on forums that use them.

UltimateOreo · 02-15-2009, 07:04 PM

Content!
Its absolutly needy that you get as much good content going as possible then start to work on your software but yes content is most important.

**Shawn Gossman** · 02-15-2009, 08:52 PM

I say content is most important, a successful forum isn't successful because of the software, I know of free host forums that are bigger than a lot of vbulletin forum because of all the posts and members...content...

**theezy** · 02-16-2009, 01:03 PM

I posted this thread on another forum once and it erupted into a huge flame war because this one member was convinced that software has everything to do with success and the content was useless. He had a dead forum so he didnt really prove his point. It was pretty funny.

Anyways,
I can browse almost any forum software out there just fine. Anyone can figure out how to navigate a forum (no matter what software its on). I think that the content of a site is way more important than software or skins. A forum can have the best skin and software in the world but if it has no substance then it wont keep people around for long.

**Shawn Gossman** · 02-16-2009, 09:05 PM

It wasnt my old forum, forumseed was it? :- I cant remember but i think you were a member on it at one time...

**Will.Spencer** · 02-19-2009, 02:01 PM

To me, it's 95% content and 5% forum software/theme.

But we should understand that we live in a world where other people may think/feel differently than ourselves.

My forum members complained until I got a non-default vBulletin theme, then they complained until I got a second and third vBulletin theme.

If I had tried to use a software package other than vBulletin, I would be on my webmaster forum alone.

Alternatively, I am starting to build a forum in another niche where the members won't demand vBulletin -- so I am using Fireboard. It integrates much more nicely with Joomla and Community Builder.

**Xhaiden** · 02-22-2009, 07:35 PM

It's definitely content for the most part. I would also add ease of use just below that. People are not going to use a forum, no matter what forum software is used if its not easy to use/understand. The third piece is the look of the forum, the eye candy. In my opinion sites that can do all three of these things well will be the most successful. Again though, if you have the eye candy and ease of use but no content you will fall flat on your face. If you have great content and lousy eye candy and ease of use you might do well but if you can put that all together I think you would have a very strong mix of becoming one of the big forums out there or at least be a front runner in your niche.

**FusedLayer** · 06-09-2009, 01:40 AM

Definitely the content is more important to me. As long as I find the stuff I am looking for I do not care what the site uses.

02-12-2009, 08:50 AM	#1
theezy Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 48	Content vs Software Whats more important to you? The content on a forum or the software its using? __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* - Promote! Get Results!

02-13-2009, 12:21 AM	#2
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	Content by far is the most important thing for a forum. I would say more forum users don't know the different between the different software at first glance... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

02-15-2009, 01:01 AM	#3
HighLayer Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 46	The content is important of course. It's the main thing but also the software and the feel of the forums should be considered. I do not like dark colors and will not stay active on forums that use them. __________________ █ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting & Dedicated Servers █ 100% uptime SLA - 24x7x365 Support - RVSiteBuilder Pro - FFmpeg Modules - Remote Reboot █ Visit To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. or Call 1-888-84-LAYER

02-15-2009, 08:52 PM	#5
Shawn Gossman Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Illinois USA Posts: 150	I say content is most important, a successful forum isn't successful because of the software, I know of free host forums that are bigger than a lot of vbulletin forum because of all the posts and members...content... __________________ Shawn (WildBB Developer) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-16-2009, 01:03 PM	#6
theezy Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 48	I posted this thread on another forum once and it erupted into a huge flame war because this one member was convinced that software has everything to do with success and the content was useless. He had a dead forum so he didnt really prove his point. It was pretty funny. Anyways, I can browse almost any forum software out there just fine. Anyone can figure out how to navigate a forum (no matter what software its on). I think that the content of a site is way more important than software or skins. A forum can have the best skin and software in the world but if it has no substance then it wont keep people around for long. __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* - Promote! Get Results!

02-15-2009, 07:04 PM	#4
UltimateOreo Groupie Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 32	Content! Its absolutly needy that you get as much good content going as possible then start to work on your software but yes content is most important.

02-16-2009, 09:05 PM	#7
Shawn Gossman Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Illinois USA Posts: 150	It wasnt my old forum, forumseed was it? :- I cant remember but i think you were a member on it at one time... __________________ Shawn (WildBB Developer) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-19-2009, 02:01 PM	#8
Will.Spencer Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 256	To me, it's 95% content and 5% forum software/theme. But we should understand that we live in a world where other people may think/feel differently than ourselves. My forum members complained until I got a non-default vBulletin theme, then they complained until I got a second and third vBulletin theme. If I had tried to use a software package other than vBulletin, I would be on my webmaster forum alone. Alternatively, I am starting to build a forum in another niche where the members won't demand vBulletin -- so I am using Fireboard. It integrates much more nicely with Joomla and Community Builder. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-22-2009, 07:35 PM	#9
Xhaiden Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 26	It's definitely content for the most part. I would also add ease of use just below that. People are not going to use a forum, no matter what forum software is used if its not easy to use/understand. The third piece is the look of the forum, the eye candy. In my opinion sites that can do all three of these things well will be the most successful. Again though, if you have the eye candy and ease of use but no content you will fall flat on your face. If you have great content and lousy eye candy and ease of use you might do well but if you can put that all together I think you would have a very strong mix of becoming one of the big forums out there or at least be a front runner in your niche. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

06-09-2009, 01:40 AM	#10
FusedLayer Groupie Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 36	Definitely the content is more important to me. As long as I find the stuff I am looking for I do not care what the site uses.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Starting an online community: Choosing a forum software	Shawn Gossman	Planning and Brainstorming	3	07-02-2008 08:44 PM