Does forum software impact membership?

[Shawn Gossman]

How does everyone feel about forum software platforms being used a membership impacts?

For example, John Doe might not join your forum because it uses vBulletin, and they prefer XenForo.

Have you ever seen this happen?

Do you think this is a big problem in the forum world or just for certain niches and a very small group of people?

 

[Dilip]

In my opinion, yes. UX definitely has an impact on whether people will stay or leave.

As for fanboys, I don't care. As long as we are providing something useful, people are going to stay.

 

[Kris P. Bacon]

Forums are not images, they’re platforms. Obviously, there has to be ease of use and it has to at least look a little professional, but who really cares about what software someone is using? People avoid forums for a variety of reasons but I’ve never come across anyone who didn’t post on a forum because they didn’t like the banner heading or whatever.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Forums are not images, they’re platforms. Obviously, there has to be ease of use and it has to at least look a little professional, but who really cares about what software someone is using? People avoid forums for a variety of reasons but I’ve never come across anyone who didn’t post on a forum because they didn’t like the banner heading or whatever.

Like Dilip says, there are software fanboys out there.

I've seen many vBulletin folk who will not join XF forums and vice-versa.

Weird, yes. But they're out there.

 

[Kris P. Bacon]

Like Dilip says, there are software fanboys out there.

I've seen many vBulletin folk who will not join XF forums and vice-versa.

Weird, yes. But they're out there.

I don't doubt they're out there, but so are fans of Micky Mouse and the old Triang Hornby model train set fans, but similarly I doubt you'd get a forum together based on types of software.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I don't doubt they're out there, but so are fans of Micky Mouse and the old Triang Hornby model train set fans, but similarly I doubt you'd get a forum together based on types of software.

That's true.

But on another forum, one you just left, there are plenty who are like that lol. Trust me, I've been a member there for nearly 20 years. I think the software clash is what started that forum down its road of self-destruction in all honesty.

It's just not that apparent anymore now that forums have overall decreased in popularity.

 

[Kris P. Bacon]

That's true.

But on another forum, one you just left, there are plenty who are like that lol. Trust me, I've been a member there for nearly 20 years. I think the software clash is what started that forum down its road of self-destruction in all honesty.

It's just not that apparent anymore now that forums have overall decreased in popularity.

That’s true. Plenty with nothing to say or anything new to add.