Online Forums vs Blogs

I am often asked the difference between online forums and blogs.  It is a very good question.  First, both technologies share a lot in common.  Both techniques engage the reader in a "conversation" and both involve some degree of community building.  Both harness the power of the Internet to communicate in new ways, although forums and user groups have been around since the the Internet itself (and before) and blogs are relatively new, especially to business.

But there are some distinct differences between the two forms of "social" media.

User Groups and Online Forums
User groups or online forums were created specifically to build community on the Web around some specific interest or concern, for example, a user group comprised of Linux developpers, Mac Users, or Dreamweaver designers. But online forums are not just for technical folks, they can be used by any subset of users. For example, my father, a former editor of the Washington Post, is an active member of the Combat Correspondents online forum.  There are also user groups for those who collect Beanie Babies, who share an interest in Star Trek or organic farming.  The list is almost endless.

Originally these communities of interest could be found on dial-up, bulletin board services and on Internet newsgroups frequented by early adopters of computer technology.  Later, Internet-based forums began to spring up around the World Wide Web.  Today these forums cover the gambit from religion to politics and typically are referred to as online forums, user groups, message boards, discussion groups, or web forums.

Another distinct difference is that user groups are moderated, by one or even several moderators, whose role is to ensure that the group stays on topic, that good behavior is enforced and to help with any technical problems. The user group sets the agenda, and the users have a great deal of control.  Online forums also often offer rich functionality, including greater security and authorization features, more formatting options and administrative controls.  Because online forums are built to be moderated, the leader/s can control how the site is accessed, limit user posts, and even keep  problem members from posting. 

At the same time users have more options in an online forum, from private messaging to member profiles.  Finally, one of the biggest differences is that user groups or online forums, can be read in order, in threaded conversations.

Blogs
Blogs, by comparison, are first and foremost, a publishing tool, a means to provide a voice to the individual blogger (or author). Where as an online community has many authors and represents many view points (often in conflict with each other), blogs offer their readers a single point-of-view, that of the author's.

Because blogs often include the ability for readers to comment on blog posts, a community often ensues.  But this interaction is a byproduct of the dialogue between author and reader, and not the primary purpose of the blog.  While readers can comment on a blog post, they don't generally set the conversation's agenda or subject.  This differs greatly from the bilateral nature of online forums, where each member can be author or reader or both.

The tools used to publish blogs often include the functionality necessary for community-building found in Trackbacks and pings. These two techniques allow the author to comment on someone else's post and to begin a conversation.  Blogs can be published as RSS feeds that provide automatic notification to subscribers when new posts are made. These feeds provide a mechanism for distributing or syndicating blog posts over the Internet.  Then RSS readers, or aggregators, enable the reader to collect updates from many blogs and read them at his or her convenience. Thus, a community of interest can be quickly formed around people that subscribe to RSS feeds in common.

Blogs enable companies and project teams to manage their content or knowledge, while forums are more oriented toward answering individual queries. Blogs also make use of categories and allow the reader easily browse or search archived posts to find infomation on a particular topic or interest. And increasingly business blogs offer Google site search.

Today I see a melding of both technologies, where some online forums now offer RSS feeds and most blogs support community. But, while the two media share some aspects in common, they are different tools with distinct primary objectives.  Each has a contribution to make to a company or enterprise.  And which you use, in what fashion, depends on what you wish to accomplish.  There is no reason you can't do both.

If you are interested in learning more about the two.  Here is an excellent article on forums vs blogs and here is a thoughtful post.

Comments

[Jeremiah Owyang]

This is a great take on this, I've been thinking similiar thoughts to this

http://jeremiahthewebprophet.blogspot.com/2005/10/whats-better-to-build-community-blogs.html

[Robin Stavisky]

Glad you like it, Jeremy, as I was influenced by your own post earlier. (see above). Best, Robin

[steven davies]

Now I know the difference between online internet forums and blogs.:))

[Jeb Simons]

I'm not sure what the hold-up is... maybe they have re-thought their stance on how this is going to actually make the company any money. Or perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. Whatever it is, it's hardly something I'd claim as being "Well done".
www.jebshouse.com

[Alvin Cordeiro]

Thank you for posting this blog. I've found it helpful. It seems that blogging will provide a better path to attracting people with specific and targeted interests and creating a forum will provide a voice to our customers. Both options provide a means to moderate which is an area of concern for me. I think it is important in both blogs and forums to make sure your readers and participants understand up front what the message posting policies are so there isn't a misunderstanding in the event a post is rejected. Perhaps providing a section such as “5 simple rules for posting” would be helpful and prevent users from feeling they have been unjustly moderated if the moderator can point out where the post breached the rules.

[Alvin Cordeiro]

Thank you for posting this blog. I've found it helpful. It seems that blogging will provide a better path to attracting people with specific and targeted interests and creating a forum will provide a voice to our customers. Both options provide a means to moderate which is an area of concern for me. I think it is important in both blogs and forums to make sure your readers and participants understand up front what the message posting policies are so there isn't a misunderstanding in the event a post is rejected. Perhaps providing a section such as “5 simple rules for posting” would be helpful and prevent users from feeling they have been unjustly moderated if the moderator can point out where the post breached the rules.

[Robin D. Stavisky]

I couldn't agree more, Alvin. I wonder what you would choose at the "5 simple rules for posting.

[Robin D. Stavisky]

I couldn't agree more, Alvin. I wonder what you would choose at the "5 simple rules for posting.

[Alvin Cordeiro]

I would suppose the "5 simple rules for posting" would be in part contingent on the nature of the blog or forum. On a personal level I would hope the basic rules we all learned as children would apply, possibly with a little modification.

Rule #1, #2, and #3:
If you don't have anything nice to say... then say it nicely.
1) No profanity
2) No name calling
3) Treat others with respect

Rule #4:
Share your toys...If you have something to share with the group, do so, just make sure it is on topic.
4) No spamming the blog or forum with off topic information

Rule #5:
Use your words, just not all of them.
5) Keep your posts as short as possible while still getting the message across without rambling about multiple topict in a single post.

I think these could cover it for some people. Now let me go back and make sure I'm taking my own suggestions :)

[myspace design]

great post! Nice comparison, by the way.

[Binoy]

This is a very interesting topic.. Blogs are a medium to express your ideas and interests.
it is easily accessible to anyone who has time and inclination to give expression to his creativity..
But the difficult thing is to get the blog popular..

i hav a blog : http://randomthoughts.ebored.com/
but i dont know how to reach out to people.

[Social Network Web Design]

Great article outlining the differences in forums and blogs. Most modern users may not even know what a forum is anymore!

[Jeff Paul Internet Business]

I was just looking around for material on internet marketing and stumbled on your post. Nice post. I’m still looking for materials for my research.

[Elaina]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Elaina

http://www.freearticletrove.com

[milka veronica]

I think forums are better, because it brings more backlinks to your site. Blogs are a great tool, but have to work very hard.