Is facebook killing forums?!

[onehost]

Originally Posted by thespi

Yes we're having trouble starting a forum, it's hardest to get the first few members but people will remain loyal if they like the forum.

I hate to say, but what do you have to offer that I can not find on the
top 5 big forums? forums are a saturated market, everyone and
their grandmother is trying to start a forum about the same
topics you can find on the top biggest forums...

that is what everyone else is having a hard time...

they made it first to the top...

everyone else did not....

you are right to a point, people are going to have their favi
forums that they hang on, and unless you can offer them
something better, then they will continue to hang where
they have most likely been hanging for years...

and not everyone likes evil facebook...

I am not a fan of facebook either, never have been...

If your forum is not making it, then it is not because of
facebook, it is because of what you are not doing right....

[cpvrx]

Facebook isn't killing forums - if you think it is, then you need to work harder, and try something new.

There's so many various communities out there, and they continue to grow. Same with niche forums.

[CaptnSolo]

you can go one other site and introduce yourself and somewhat promote your site. Just like in the gaming community with the different clans and tournament sites out there and you are friends with them then you go to their sites and they comes to your site. you pretty much need to get people with some common interest and your real life friends can be on it and help pass the word out too

[Cyburbia]

Facebook has had an impact on forums, no doubt. However, I still see a place for forums, because:

* It gives users the chance to discuss issues with some level of anonymity. On my site, many users are in the public spotlight in their communities. They still want to interact with their peers, but they really don't want to have their names out there.

* I've got the dominant English-language forum dealing with a certain profession. On Facebook, and before that Yahoo Groups, there were many scattered groups. Which one of the many groups do you join? (The same thing can be said with subjects that are represented by hundreds of forums, like anime and gaming. Which anime site of the thousands out there do you join?)

* Facebook and other large social networking sites is blocked at many workplaces. Professional forums usually aren't blocked.

* A forum allows a communtity to develop its own identity, independent of Facebook.

[fluidswork]

I think facebook is placing a challenges to forums for them to grow .................

[Alfa1]

Its typical how this topic is a hot topic on every webmaster forum that I visit. Its clearly a worrisome issue for webmasters.

And with good reason. Forums now need to content with facebook over the time that members spend online. And facebook keeps calling them. In fact, I have 3 new facebook friend requests waiting for me now.

[cpvrx]

Originally Posted by Alfa1

Its typical how this topic is a hot topic on every webmaster forum that I visit. Its clearly a worrisome issue for webmasters.

And with good reason. Forums now need to content with facebook over the time that members spend online. And facebook keeps calling them. In fact, I have 3 new facebook friend requests waiting for me now.

Ya, its on a lot of webmaster forums these days. I wonder why so many people are so worried though? There's no point, if you can't beat them, join them. Use facebook to market and leverage your community.

[BlackThorn]

Originally Posted by cpvrx

Facebook isn't killing forums - if you think it is, then you need to work harder, and try something new.

There's so many various communities out there, and they continue to grow. Same with niche forums.

Well, maybe I don't see it that way. I will not argue with you or someone else 'cause I always respect people's opinion but I also don't think this, however certanly people is interacting more there, spending more time there, and thus, leaving less time for our forums so I'm sure it's pretty good a reason. Fight against facebook is like fighting destiny...lol, No matter how hard you try, you will fail their power is a fact. The time will come soon, I hope when facebook fade away as the vacuous nonsense they ultimately are. Looking for "how to" or open communities, nothing yet beats forums. What/ever really I'm still hating facebook.

Originally Posted by Alfa1

Its typical how this topic is a hot topic on every webmaster forum that I visit. Its clearly a worrisome issue for webmasters.

And with good reason. Forums now need to content with facebook over the time that members spend online. And facebook keeps calling them. In fact, I have 3 new facebook friend requests waiting for me now.

I've tried facebook and hate it. Even the folks that have good things to talk about are reduced to blathering nonsense when I look them up on facebook lol. A lot of users spend so much of their time on facebook, and very little on my own. I still gets lots of people visiting but I also have lost a lot. I would guess everyone has experienced it and there is nothing else I can attribue this to, other than to facebook. I have seen it, observed it and analyzed it.

[GONUMBER6]

I think it is funny how facebook's "suggest to friends" feature has now been only given to admins of a page- but even so it has been conveniently broken since October of 2010. Perhaps to sell more facebook ads would be my theory.

Facebook really helped my forum grow into something great by creating a page on facebook- so I must thank them for that- but now with my new forum, since 'suggest to friends' is not working I am having a very hard time getting my new forum out there without seeming spammy! So there is obviously + and - to facebook. The key is to create your forum to be content worthy and different from what someone gets out of facebook. Why would you go shopping at a camera store if you can get it at best buy? Because the camera store offers a unique service and more types of what you are looking for.

I know my forum is small but we are steadily growing, and facebook has helped with that. The key is getting them to stay and visit.

[cpvrx]

Well, maybe I don't see it that way. I will not argue with you or someone else 'cause I always respect people's opinion but I also don't think this, however certanly people is interacting more there, spending more time there, and thus, leaving less time for our forums so I'm sure it's pretty good a reason. Fight against facebook is like fighting destiny...lol, No matter how hard you try, you will fail their power is a fact. The time will come soon, I hope when facebook fade away as the vacuous nonsense they ultimately are. Looking for "how to" or open communities, nothing yet beats forums. What/ever really I'm still hating facebook.

The reason why I say this is because if you have a good niche forum, how will Facebook kill it? If you have good content, Facebook doesn't hurt you. in fact, you can use FB to find more content for your forums - quote things from users on fb, and make good threads.