I have noticed a few hosting companies to have forums for there clients or soon - to - be clients. I always thought that was a bad idea, but i also thought 2 plus 2 equaled 4.5. Any thoughts about forums for on webhosting sites?

Mostly webhosts have forums where they can post articles, answer pre-sales questions, where people can come and see the questions people had previously asked, this way the host might not have to explain the same thing twice.

I always think forums are a good place, where you can clear our customer's or going to be customers doubts, people can learn from other peoples experiences and so on.

Also worthy of note: if a host has a forum, and the last post is several months old, it doesn't give an exactly warming aura to the potential client. They may think the host has gone belly up or something. Just a thought, it may be ridiculous :)

if the forum is busy it solves most problems/questions by the users themselves.

i believe its a great idea, i think i'll have one soon :)

Forums, I believe are essential for all webhosts.

It's the first place I look to see what present customers are saying about the concerned company, how quick/what manner replies are.

Many of these nightmare webhosts don't have forums - only because they know it would solely be a forum to voice complaints.

I believe having a forum would add a nice personal touch so to speak, allows a potential client to "hang out" so to speak and perhaps make a friend or two in the process!
Try making a little interesting, perhaps add non-hosting items and points of discussion and etc...
I will be using pHpBB, as I dont expect most web hosts forums to be high loads. I came across a modified version of pHpBB - integramod (dot) com and in the process of customing it to fit my upcoming site. I believe the version pHpBB 1.2.3 is the latest version with 1.3.0 to follow within the next few days... has pleantly of interesting mods etc...
Have a look might interest you!

I think forums can either be greater or rubbish. They can really boost the business in terms of clients getting a good feeling if they are busy and it will cut down on support queries etc if they are used properly.

They can be rubbish if unmanned by the company, poorly layed out or barely used so when new potential clients browse the forums and notice theres nothing there they move swiftly on to the next hosting company.

I personally have a vBulletin license and really like vBulletin a lot. I am getting my server today and getting my site designed during the course of the next few weeks. Once i have the design i am going to try integrate the forum into the site as best as i can so that it looks like part of the site and am going to really try and utilise it.

Thanks

Anjam :pimp:

I think the consensus is if they get la good number of posts/users then they are good, if they are sitting dormant then they are bad.

Then again, nothing stopping you signing up 5 new accounts per day and posting a couple of dozen times.

:D :D

Hosting forums are quite helpful. Lets you to find some answers you might ask

we don't have one anymore because when we did our clients didn't use it, they prefered to email us direct and when it was used it was people duplicating their problems that they had emailed, so it just seemed to be negative and very vey underused which is off putting.

Put it this way, someone is looking at 2 hosts who have pretty much the same plans on offer etc. Host 1 has a very active forum and the potential client can get in there and see that host's clients interacting, chatting, complaining (yes, it's a great to show complaints) and Host 2 does not have a forum. I bet 9/10 folks would go with Host 1, considering the plans on offer and similar etc. :)