Webdigity recently posted an interesting article located here

Now what was interesting to me, is the fact that I was almost reading what I’ve been swearing by for a while. Though I’ll expand even more on what WebDigity said, and maybe even disagree with some things.

Before some months I realized that a forum site can’t really be a success if it consists only of forums. I mean that internet is full of forums, and no matter how nice is yours, you must also have something else to compete with the others. -WebDigity

I absolutely agree with this. I have flown with this mindset ever since I started working on my first serious community. People always asked me “Daniel, why don’t you like calling Writer’s Beat a forum?” simply because “That’s not unique enough!”.

To me forum software is only the scaffolding to lay out a true community. Discussions itself, and forum software just isn’t unique in itself to be a “community”. I also guarantee you one more thing, communities are a lot more successful than forums.

WebDigity pointed out that they added “tag browsing, web design gallery, tutorial database, and a directory for webmasters” to make it a community. I would agree with all of these types of modules to create a successful community. I’d say that they are not nessecary though. On the other hand, tagging these days is pretty much standard for community sites these days with web 2.0. It’s actually very easy to integrate tagging now thanks to Zoints.

I’d say that one more thing to really be a community, is that you’d need a profile system! Afterall social-profiles are all the buzz these days. There’s actually one available for free offered by Zoints Yeah, I know I promote Zoints a lot, well that’s because they @$%*%*%* rock.

WebDigity bases one more thing on creating a community, they say that changing your front page from usual forums is a good way to be unique. I agree, but I’ll add more on this subject.

If you look at what I have done with Talk Los Angeles!, you will see how you can really take advantage of columns and a navigation sidebar to really create a more “website” feel instead of a forum. I’m still working on Talk Los Angeles! To be more hip and friendly, but you get the general idea. Talk L.A does NOT look like most forums. The goal is to create a unique community.

Summary, be unique, become successful.

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