Why dont forum software websites have a showcase section?

[cornnfedd]

I am really curious as to why so many forums websites do not have a showcase section where they can showcase forums made out of their software, why don't they do it?

One of the first things I look for when deciding on new forum software is to go and check other sites that are using it and what they look like, second will be to check how much support there is for different themes and mods etc.

/confused look

 

[R0binHood]

Discourse has a very comprehensive customer section

https://www.discourse.org/customers

IPS Has a few too

https://invisioncommunity.com/solutions/

 

[cornnfedd]

yeah I was browsing through the Discourse one a few weeks ago wondering why they all don't have something similar..

 

[haqzore]

I think it's because it would set false expectations, bordering on false advertising, for the average customer.

Big/beautiful/successful communities typically have some level of customization. Putting that on display is going to mislead the average buyer on what they can do "out of the box".

 

[R0binHood]

Nah, I don't buy that. Even if it's highly customised that would show how powerful and extensible the software is.

No one is claiming false advertising about Wordpress on their showcase page where all the sites are highly customised with themes, plugins and custom development instead of the stock 20xx theme and no plugins.

https://wordpress.org/showcase/

As a potential customer I don't want to see 20 stock layouts of successful forums, I want to see what crazy stuff is possible with some creativity and work. It still demonstrates the capability of the platform, whether it's a CMS or Community suite.

 

[haqzore]

Nah, I don't buy that. Even if it's highly customised that would show how powerful and extensible the software is.

No one is claiming false advertising about Wordpress on their showcase page where all the sites are highly customised with themes, plugins and custom development instead of the stock 20xx theme and no plugins.

https://wordpress.org/showcase/

As a potential customer I don't want to see 20 stock layouts of successful forums, I want to see what crazy stuff is possible with some creativity and work. It still demonstrates the capability of the platform, whether it's a CMS or Community suite.

You may be right.

WordPress is very different than paid platforms I think.

"Showing how extensible it is" is just the problem I'm referring to.

Show me the most impressive, complex site in the world. I'll show you Notepad and say "Notepad is so extensible and powerful you could make that site with it."

Anything is possible on any platform. It just comes down to re$ource$ available.

When you sell WBB/IPS/XF, with a core and purchasable addons, I imagine the layman customer will assume" I can do that". Especially if the first party company is showing them off.

 

[R0binHood]

I think most people in the position of buying any of those pieces of software in todays age will be aware that the official forums will be stock, which they can test themselves, and that many customers will do what they can to trick them out and customise them, some of which could be showcase sites.

Official demo site: Try out the stock (or close to stock) experience
Showcase: To show off what can be done if you customise and trick it out

 

[LeadCrow]

Clients in general dont like the extra scrutiny of their site management a showcase subjects them to. Why bother when webmasters have nothing to gain from promoting your software?

Vbulletin.org used to maintain a board of the month showcase long ago but did so less frequently post-jelsoft. A shame, since it was supposed to be revitalized, especially after vb5 went gold. Makes you wonder if the best showcase for your software is necessarilly only the latest version, and wether that should be a criteria.

 

[R0binHood]

Why bother when webmasters have nothing to gain from promoting your software?

Extra, potentially high domain authority backlinks?

Free advertising?

 

[rafalp]

Extra, potentially high domain authority backlinks?

Like Blizzard or HowToGeek needs those to make money

The reason you don't usually bother with those too much is because that means dealing with client's marketing department who will want to debate everything about showcase bit, while having people on your side making sure stuff stays up to date. It's crappier case-study.

 

[R0binHood]

Yeah, true. Those massive companies don't really need the exposure. The showcases do benefit the software more than the customer really in that instance.

 

[truthingtotruth]

This is a pretty amazing thread! There is education here!!

 

[Anton Chigurh]

after vb5 went gold.

It never actually went "gold." It is and always was just plain ole feces.

 

[R0binHood]

Ohhhh....****s shots fired!

I don't suppose VB5 also released an updated today did they? That would be gold.

 

[Anton Chigurh]

I don't suppose VB5 also released an updated today did they?

I wouldn't have any way of knowing. I only have one board left that runs vB and it's using 3.8.11 - I've avoided totally, the vB5 plague. That 3.8.11 is fixinta be xF 2.1 in the near future.

 

[R0binHood]

I wouldn't have any way of knowing.

Yeah, I don't really care to visit their website to check either

 

[zappaDPJ]

vB5 continues to evolve but so does the bug count with every new release. 3192 confirmed bugs at the time of posting. Personally I'd still consider it a beta product.

 

[R0binHood]

3192 confirmed bugs at the time of posting.

You've got to be kidding me?

 

[zappaDPJ]

You've got to be kidding me?

 

[Anton Chigurh]

vB5 continues to evolve but so does the bug count with every new release. 3192 confirmed bugs at the time of posting. Personally I'd still consider it a beta product.

Feces evolves too. Collects 1000s of flies who lay eggs then maggots result. Bugs. Keeps getting more malodorous as time passes, until finally years later stops stinking. Just petrifies.