Vbulletin Blog + Vbulletin forums

Vbulletin is going to release a Blog System (vBulletinBlog) which has only just gone into beta testing by application. You can read more about it here:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224441

Several of my members have requested a blog and I was wondering if any of you Forum Owners out there have used a blog in conjunction with your forum and how it affected the forum.

The forum on my site is currently the main focus and I fear that at least on some level allowing member blogs will detract from the forums themselves. If that happens the content of the forums will dwindle and possibly lead to lower registration rates, and lower registration rates.

So what are your opinions on having a forum AND a blog for members?
Q

 

That's interesting. I'm going to keep my eye on it for a while. I may try it out on a couple forums I run and see how people react to it. Could be great from a branding perspective if you can get people to create a personal blog space on your domain.

 

OH sweeeeet!!!!

this rocks

been waiting for this
i suggested this 15 times in 3 months!!

 

Very interesting and useful idea! It is a very good move from Vbulletin.

 

Does anyone actually use a blog and forum already?
Does one effect the other in quality or quantity?

I would like to figure out some of the pros and cons of adding this type of add-on before it's public to know whether I should be the first on my block to install it, or just pass it by.
Q

 

Yeah I dont see the point of blogs attached to forums, I mean why not just make a post?

 

I blog, and I post on forums. A post on the DP about my chicken coop I don't think would go over well... but then, this is a niche forum, where I'd assume having a blog attached would kind of make that a niche as well.

I'd like to hear from anyone that does have both installed and how well they work together, or even from anyone beta testing the vB blog.
Q

 

Hmm I suppose, I am still deciding whether to use this or not. Im thinking it might be a good way to get people creating quality articles. I still dont know though.............

 

I faced this a few months ago and decided to create subforums within a general blog category. Each subforum was a particular person's blogging place, and I set up the permissions such that only the blogger could start new threads within his own section, and regular members could only reply.

Same functions, but kept all the content WITHIN the forum.

You could take it one step further (depending on your forum setup) and allow your blogger to pick a skin specific for their section - where that skin overrides users' choice of skin.

Let me know if you want to see a rough demo

 

Great news.. I'll be getting the vB Blog..

 

I am using Adrian's Vblogetin (commerical product in beta) and the results are good. My members requested it since we had it on our phpBB board before moving to Vbulletin.

As for your question, no it hasn't decreased the user activity at my forums. They are running in conjunction with the blogs and the registration rate or the posting rate at the forums is still the same or has rather improved.

 

Thank you for your input, it was pretty much just want I wanted to hear.

I'd still like to hear from a few others though...

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with offer a blog, but my members have mostly ignored the one i installed.

-Raymond

 

Does anyone have an example of a Vbulletin blog that I can see? Thank you

 

I guess this is one of examples.

 

I currently only have on vbulletin board and that's a norwegian webmaster forum. I'm pretty sure they all have their own blogs.

But if your in other niches, I'm sure blogs would be great!