new forum configuration

Forum Moderators: rogerd

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new forum configuration

adding into existing site

smallcompany

7:07 pm on Jul 26, 2010 (gmt 0)

I'm about to start a new forum which I wanted to be a part of my existing site.

I opted for vBulletin. Not so much for the volume that I expect not to be too high, but more to be sure I have all the security updates. Somehow paid option makes me feel more secure as I expect the software provider to be more obliged to take care of their customers. Am I right?

So, I thought about going either:

- example.com/forum/, or
- forum.example.com

Is there any difference from maintenance and SEO perspective?

Thanks

smallcompany

6:55 pm on Jul 27, 2010 (gmt 0)

I opted for vBulletin.

Now I'm back to the beginning. I asked questions in another thread under Foo.

brotherhood of LAN

6:59 pm on Jul 27, 2010 (gmt 0)

SEO perspective

This fairly recent discussion [webmasterworld.com] may shed some light on that front.

From tedster's post

As far as ranking goes, it's really not going to matter in my view. A few years ago, subdomains were treated more like a separate website by Gogole, but not today.

..........

So it's not worth any agonizing - just pick one and then develop as technically sound a system as you can muster.

LifeinAsia

6:59 pm on Jul 27, 2010 (gmt 0)

Either way will work. For me, if the forum is very related to the site, I'll make it a sub-directory. If it's not very related (e.g., adding to an e-commerce site), I'd probably opt for subdomain.

smallcompany

9:10 pm on Jul 27, 2010 (gmt 0)

Thanks.

What about vB vs. IPB? I'm also curious about their blog extensions.

Can you give your opinion please - if you know them?

Thank you

rogerd

6:09 pm on Jul 28, 2010 (gmt 0)

I doubt if either is as a robust as a dedicated blog platform like WordPress, but integration would be trivial.

Anyone have any experience with using the blog add-ons for these forums?

smallcompany

5:07 am on Jul 29, 2010 (gmt 0)

The idea is to give people a chance to run a personal blog that would be in close connection to what the forum would be about (which is in the closest connection to what the existing site is about).

In practice, if you're into it, and active forum member, you may like the idea of having a blog for sharing a thought here and there.

I don't anticipate a huge traffic and activity on forum at the beginning. What could happen later, who knows.

Thanks