Why BuddyPress is vBulletin's Big Opportunity

[donnacha]

Thanks Vividbreeze, Idared and Crash Resistant.

We've now got 8 interested people, when we get 4 more I'll write up a request in the Paid Requests section, so, step on up folks and post your interest.

The request I right will refer to this thread, pointing out that this is a pretty solid indicator of demand, especially given that the vast majority of people won't even know BuddyPress until the end of next month. This is pretty sweet opportunity for a good developer with a few hours on his hands.

Idared - we're suggesting $50 as a possible price because it's a decent amount, reflecting the massive boost that BuddyPress will give our websites - effectively, it is a version of Facebook that actually works, looks wonderful and has one of the most active and well-led Open Source communities behind it - oh, and don't forget the advantage of being able to give thousands of your users their own WordPress blog, fully integrated with their forum membership!

$50 is a pretty small price to be able to integrate our favorite forum software with all that, but still less than the $60 vBulletin are charging for their rather kludgy blogging add-on, which has simply failed to appeal to most users of most forums.

Once it is clear how big BuddyPress is going to be, and that we're looking at several hundred or possibly even thousands of people willing to pay $50 each, simply for an adaption of an existing bridge, that should be enough to attract a competent developer to the project.

So, go ahead and post folks, we represent the early adopters, the minority who are ahead of the curve and can see the horizon!

[petchat]

I still need to look further into this, but I could certainly be interested!

[donnacha]

Andy Peatling, Automattic employee and Buddypress team lead, has announced that the beta will be released on Dec 15 and the full release is targeted around Christmas.

Check it out to see if it would suit your vB community, don't forget that it also has the full power of WordPress MU (give WordPress blogs to thousands of your users, all from one installation) under the hood:

BuddyPress Website

BuddyPress Demo

[ArnyVee]

I would be certainly willing to pay $50 towards getting this done. Any new members sending you PMs about their interest in it? Or, are we still at 8 people?

[donnacha]

We have eight "definites" and one "maybe" here in this thread, and two off-thread definites but I would stress that posts are much better than PMs because our whole goal here is to demonstrate that there is real demand for this.

The demand will become obvious to everyone once BuddyPress is actually released next month, but what we are hoping is that some enterprising developer will spot that our early, forward-looking demand and realize that preparing the adaption early will allow him to release simultaneously with BuddyPress, when the buzz will be at it's highest.

It is in my personal interests that the developer, whoever he is, catches that early wave, allowing him to make several thousand dollars right from the beginning because that will make the long-term financial potential clear and ensure that it becomes a supported, continually improved bridge.

So, website owners, realize that developers don't always understand what things we will be willing to pay for, they are naturally reluctant to invest their time into a project unless WE make our need for it, and our willingness to pay, clear.

So, everyone, sit down and think about what this bridge will allow you do to, about how it will radically improve your community's ability to express itself and interact, think the competitive edge it will give you against other vB sites in your niche, think about how your site will be affected if your competitors evolve in this direction while you stay still.

Then think, seriously, about whether being able to use the BuddyPress and WPMU features is worth $50 to you because, nice though it is to get stuff for free, what we need on this thread are people who understand that, if you want to get things done, and you do not possess those skills to do it yourself, you have to find a way to make it worthwhile for someone who does have those skills.

We need a few more definites - say, four more - before we post this in the Paid Requests section.

[nwingate]

I am also very interested in this and would be willing to pay for the features.

[ArnyVee]

That makes 9 definites and 1 maybe on this thread

Not sure about your "off-thread" definites, but it seems like we're getting closer to a possible solution.

[nwingate]

I have more than one site That I'd like to install this one ... at least three if it helps.

[ArnyVee]

I would use it on one for sure, possibly two.

But, good point Nathan.

[NorCal]

I've been following this thread. To be clear, I am interested and would be willing to contribute financially also. Any updates Donna?