What Is an Online Forum? (Definition) |
Forums online have been in existence since the 90s, but the technology for bulletin boards online was actually invented in the 1970s. In time, forums grew to include what we know today as such as logons, profiles of members and threads. In this post, we'll present you with the forum, and explain how forums function online as well as discuss the benefits and drawbacks to starting an online forum, regardless of whether you've got a passion to share or you're thinking of creating one for your existing business or brand.
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What is a forum?
Forum definition: A forum is a community of people that come together to express their ideas about their opinions, views, and issues. Forums require open discussion and must be a secure place to discuss different ideas regardless of whether they are either online or in person. The forum can be described as "flat" regarding its power structure; it might have Hosts or conveners who guide the discussion, but every member must be able to participate if they wish.
What do forums serve for?
- Meet like-minded people, and finding a sense of community.
- Conversations that focus on things you care about.
- Expressing differing ideas of opinion.
- Finding answers to questions.
- Mastering goals together
- Organizing customer service or delivering information.
- Feedback that is honest I've received from members of my constituency or members.
- Helping people feel heard.
What is an online community?
A forum online is an online space that is designed around the idea of conversation typically through the posting of questions as well as responses. Similar to a traditional forum in person they should present a flat power dynamic and promote the secure sharing of thoughts and ideas.
Online forums do not usually occur in real-time. Many popular discussion forums are ongoing conversations that span months and even years, because users continue to add fresh information. By archiving past responses and organizing posts (either according to the order in which they were posted or based on popularity), a forum can hold a lively debate that takes place over days, months, or even several years.
Some online forums are built around particular interests such as organic gardening ideas to lively political debates. A few are based on a product, like the community of bookkeepers who exchange notes on their experiences using Quickbooks which is the accounting software.
What ever topic an online forum has been created for the forum's success depends on users who will continue to keep coming back to engage and putting their time and energy into keeping the conversation alive.
Forums online could be an element of a website that is focused on other topics. It is typical for forums for products or services. Like, for instance for instance, the Adobe site is a technical resource dedicated to its sales and products. But since these products are difficult to use an online community composed of employees paid and loyal fans devote themselves to answering questions.
The best and most active online forums are ones that form part of a vibrant community-we'll explore that later.
The advantages of online forums
- Connect members around the same passions and interests.
- Members write material and answer questions User-generated content lets you scale fast
- Naturally, people organize themselves and join discussions that interest them
- Forums are able to provide amazing worth at any scale as well as real-time experiences
- Software solutions help make forms more engaging and robust than any time before
- A forum is able to transform into a successful digital enterprise
- Good forums grow through word of mouth-people will tell their circle of friends about fantastic conversations.
Advantages of online forums
- The format must be moderated-either by a host or by software-to make sure users feel secure.
- It's easy to get confused by the activities between logins, which is why an activity feed is a must.
- The conversation can stall out. This is why a good host has to ensure that the conversation is going on.
What are online forums to be used for?
The online forms are in existence for quite a while now for a while, and we have gotten used to them in one form or another. These are just a few ways we can use forums online for:
- Social networks: Websites such as Quora and Reddit have transformed forums into huge social media firms that focus on questions and answers. Reddit has 55 million daily members on its forums.
- Communities for brands: Online brand communities have become an online community where users can visit for customer service, share tips and knowledge, and even to meet fellow brand enthusiasts. For example, Apple has a volunteer forum that answers questions about its products. QuickBooks has an active forum that includes accountants and business owners who seek help on the product. And here on Mighty, the women's apparel Oiselle company Oiselle is a thriving brand community in which women can discuss fitness advice, form lasting connections, and give ideas for new products.
- Customer forums: Even though there is some overlap between forums for customers and a vibrant community of brands, it's worth making a distinction here. A few brands have added forums on their current website, and there's nothing happening on the forum. Someone might ask questions every now and then.
- Communities online: While we are aware that online communities are way more than just forums, however the majority of communities on the internet still have the same features as forums that are traditional. User-led discussions and responses are posted under threads that have already been created along with awesome features like livestreaming, courses, events, and membership options Forums can be part of a healthy community.
- Forums for special interest: They still exist on different websites, and are basic forums that focus on a particular topic of interest to the users. There isn't enough involvement required for being considered to be an online community. However, people show up and respond to questions. We found, for instance, Forum.com Model Train. Forum.com is a site dedicated to creating miniature railroads.
How do you use an online forum for company
- Unlock member-led growth. When you use a forum as part of an online community and give your members an opportunity to be part of the community, you've got a model to grow like none other. It's the new wave of firms that have this. If your business can gather people around a shared purpose to make them feel a part of something bigger to each other and maintain their connection The sky's the limit.
- Set your customer support on autopilot. The majority of brands require an element of customer support. However, what if you make a space where your Superstars could show up and use their knowledge to answer members queries for no cost? This is a great value offer.
- Help your members succeed. As a brand forum, members don't show up to be sold to. They come to gain the most value. Determine what they're looking for and assist them to achieve it, even when it's simply making sure they are getting the best value for the product or service you offer.
- Add the community. Perhaps your company can benefit from the network effect that community gives. When you add a community and take the time to establish it and then launch.
7 examples of forums on the internet
The GHF Forum is a forum specifically for families with children with a gift. They learn how to help a gifted child learn in the comfort of their home, no matter if they're homeschoolers, a hybrid schooler, or a pupil in a public school.
The BWBJ Black Birthworkers Forum: A Forum dedicated to Black birthworkers that support one another, sharing tips, and addressing questions.
There is the Little Tern Forum: An online platform dedicated to little tern conservation across the British Isles. Since different regions and governments have common challenges in conserving little tern colonies The Little Tern Project allows them to exchange knowledge and best practices and receive answers to their questions.
Reddit- Reddit is an open online community and also a social media site. People who are passionate about the topic take part in the conversation, with the most effective answers getting an upvote. The platform is a huge online community, with thousands of divisions into specific topics: AKA subreddits. Conversations can cover everything and anything, from celebrities to hobbies to religion.
Quora- Quora is a huge online community, which is dedicated exclusively to questions. Users can ask questions like, "Is 35 too late for you to return to college?" or " What's the most interesting thing you've learned that you wish you'd known sooner?" It's a lot of fun and it's easy to slip down the rabbit hole that interesting stories that users tell.
Quickbooks- - The Quickbooks forum online is a community that's dedicated to bookkeepers and accountants who share their knowledge about Quickbooks software. Members are given a score in accordance with their experience of the software to aid people understand the validity of the data. The site is a goldmine of help, particularly for business owners who do own bookkeeping and be stuck with simple issues such as "How do I combine several invoices? ."
Adobe- As mentioned above, Adobe makes a suite of products that are creative, devoted to video, photography, audio and much more. These products are vast yet also complex meaning that users are constantly learning and the product is constantly developing. The forum online provides all the help users require to make the most of their products.
Online forum sites
Then Read: 11 Kinds of Online Communities which thrive
If you're a fan of the idea of starting conversations with your own online forum by the creation of your own Mighty Network might be just the ticket.