I was wondering, I’m involved with a new startup company that is mostly web-based. We would like to set up some type of dialogue betweeen our target audience and ourselves. The challenge is we’re not sure what type of medium would be best. What do you think? Should it be an open forum or a blog of sorts… We would love to have your input on the matter…

To answer your question, I’d like to offer this discussion of blogs and forums.  First, blogs and forums share a lot of common features. They both allow you to post content. They both allow users to comment on posts and to comment on other comments. In this way, both blogs and forums create a arena for conversation between you and your customers.

 Some difference…

 Forums generally require registration before users can post comments. In addition, focums often allow users to send private messages to one another. Ultimately, forums encourage “community.” When users register for a forum, they are not only able to find information on topics that interest them, but they can easily connect to other people who share the same interests. In this way, forums are just as much about connecting people as they are about providing useful information.

Blogs also encourage dialogue between users, but in a different way. First, blogs do not necessarily require registration (though you can set yours up to require users to register before posting). In addition, blogs do not allow privte interactions in the same way that forums do. The point of a blog is more about the posting of articles and other topical content. Whether the blog is informational or merely a place to share opinions on selected topics, users interact with this content (or at least with a focus on content).  They do not necessarily interact with each other.

One important feature that blogs offer is RSS. Bloggers can setup their blog to offer RSS feeds. Users can then subscribe to blogs that they enjoy reading and receive new posts to an RSS reader or mobile device. In effect, users don’t have to go to your website to enjoy new blog posts – they just open up their RSS reader, cell phone or PDA and anytime you post something new, they can read it right away!

 From a search engine perspective, blogs do tend to get more notice. In my experience, forums can be harder to optimize. Posts are often short and the format tends to be very dynamic, making it difficult for search engines to grab hold of the content. With a blog, posts become permanent pieces of website content. You can use permalinks and other features to help search engines find your posts. And, since posts are often focused on a particular topic, it is easier to use relevant keywords to increase your search engine rankings.

 At the end of the day, both blogs and forums are useful in their own ways. It is important to ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish for your website. And, don’t forget, these tools are not mutually exclusive – you can have both!