Even though I have a few licenses for the IPS products (as a result of evaluating them some time ago as an alternative to vB) I have not kept up with the current events in the community nor am I currently using them. Lately I've been seeing a noticeable number of owners mentioning that the current 3.2 release is causing a bunch of problems for them and some are actually considering switching away from IP because of it. I can't help but think of some of the same comments from frustrated vB owners lately. So, out of curiosity sake, what is wrong the 3.2 release that are prompting the complaints?
A lot of the complaints are coming from the bigger board owners. I've been complaining about SEO lately but Matt is looking into fixing that but not sure if that will be a good or bad thing. I know they have a lot planned for upcoming releases, but again, I don't know specifics (even if I did, I wouldn't say). Will these help? Possibly, won't know until the brave big board owners upgrade. I've been noticing a steady negative response in stats with all upgrades. I don't know what it is, and most of us can't pin point it which is part of the problem since IPS staff don't care about what you have to say unless you can tell them specifically what is wrong with their software. But stats don't lie. Myself and 3 other bigboard owners that converted from vb to IPB have had the same exact trends: decrease in pages/visit (questionable since they claim it is because of ajax features but when you go from 15/visit to 4, I doubt 11 of those pages are from ajaxified features), decrease in time/visit (17 down to under 5 min per visit), increase in bounce rate (22% up to what is now hovering at 60% - can't pin point the problem but there most definitely is one. The day after I converted bounces went up to 52%, a 30% increase and has gotten worse over time. With there being 1 day difference between 2 softwares, you can't blame it on anything but the software), and a major decrease in revenue (I'm not making around 40% of what I was making). It's just getting worse over time. My uniques/day had first taken a dip (I knew it would) but 2 years later, I'm just now hitting my average of uniques I had when I was on vB. My stats are in the members section in IPB in one of the closed SEO threads. They deny there is anything wrong with the software and will give you some stupid examples as to why it's better but all examples they've given, I debunked and they didn't like that. I'm moving my site over to xenForo. The features are exactly how I wanted IPB3.2's features to work but failed hardcore. I've been suggesting things to them since the day I converted. Only when xF came around, they started changing some of the things I had problems with, but still don't work like they should. I feel like they try to avoid to have things work similar to the other softwares out there, but that is just my opinion and I'm sure one of the IPS staff here will state otherwise...it's just what I see. On top of that, people are reporting a decrease in server load, mysql activity, increase in activity, increase in visitors, and an increase in revenue. It also helps to see sites like DigitalPoint and IGN converting over to xenForo as I think that speaks leaps and bounds of their confidence in the platform. But in the end, it's up to you to do the research, do the testing, and see what you think would be best for your site. If your site is anywhere big at all...well it might not perform well on 3.2 like many of us have experienced. It's a decent software, just seems it doesn't help the site perform better.
No problems for me. But I don't care about SEO. People have complained about SEO at least since 3.1. As AzzidReign told you, they plan changes on that part. The software itself works fine for me.
I can't help but think this reading your post, have you not considered that the loss in traffic you've been seeing over a while is more due to the fact forums are not used like they once was. And that it's not so much the forum software that's at fault here the most, more that trends have changed and your seeing a constant drop in traffic because people just ain't that interested in forum boards anymore like they was years ago. I'm running both MyBB and XenForo and apart from one person "AnthonyCea", there is ZERO interest being shown in either one. In fact now I'm putting more effort into my Tumblr Blog because I know 6-12 months down the line that will still be there, can't say the same for the XenForo and MyBB forum the way things are. I can't see that changing either to date.
SEO is something major to forums. It influences how people find you, it influences your traffic which will influence revenue, and the practices (As that is all SEO really is) tends to make the software more usable for users. That they've ignored it for so long is a serious oversight. His niche would still be popular, so he wouldn't face much issue with it. Really, only general forums or local forums would lose traffic with the decline (If that). As long as you have a set topic there shouldn't be any issue as long as you have decent content.
To be honest with you, my view now is one that it doesn't matter if your running a Niche forum or a General Discussion forum. Both types are in the same boat these days when coming to forum activity. You'll always get some that still do well, fair enough. But generally speaking things have changed a lot with community forums and how much they get used. Be them Niche based or not. I'll hold my hands up and say I made a mistake buying XenForo, the software makes no difference getting you members. At the end of the day it's still a forum board which ever way you look at it, and the majority of people on the web today are not interested in using them - no matter what software you use to power it.
Yes but with his type of site you can't argue that social networking etc will kill his forum since you can't really post complex modding tutorials for games etc onto Twitter or Facebook.
Well I don't know how you can even say that considering this forum was dead for many months before XenForo was installed here. What your saying can't happen - actually did happen. The question now is, there's been a spark in new posts here because there's something new (XenForo). But how long is that going to last before things start reverting back to how they was before? Not trying to be cynical about it, just being frank, up-front and honest about things. Already since first installing XenForo, now two week later posts have started dropping off again.
People that think fb is killing forums are the ones that run low quality sites (content and style) with very little members and member activity from what I've seen. I don't think fb has anything but a positive impact on my forum. Why? No one wants their friends to know that they are apart of a gaming community, let alone one that modifies games. I'm pretty sure you don't understand what has happened. A single day should not drop my stats to the point it has. My content didn't change over 24 hours, the only thing that changed was the forum platform. So you are telling me that within 24 hours, Facebook has pooped on my niche? Yeah, I think not and that's the most absurd thing I've read. In fact, I laugh at everyone that feels the way you do. I know there are a lot of people out there that feel the way you do, but until FB actually gets forums, forums will be the best way to have discussions. You can't have long winded discussions like this post over fb...you just can't. Fb is great for short messages. And just to reiterate. People on my site won't even "like" my fb page because they don't want their friends to know they like the stuff included in my site. So while your niche may be getting pooped on (doubtful though), mine certainly cannot be pooped on by fb.
Believe me, I understand very well what has happened. I've been on the web both using and involved with running forums for near on 20 years now. I've seen a lot happen in that time with forums, enough not to be daft enough to blame it all on the forum software your using. Also, you keep writing all over the place your going to use XenForo. What you waiting for then? XenFans can do the import for you, but instead you keep making all these long threads moaning about how IPB has ruined your community, saying your moving to XenForo - then you do nothing about it. Your starting to make it look as though you just like having a good gripe about IPB all the time and have no intentions of moving to XenForo really.
Seriously? You seriously just asked that LOL! So much for 20 years in the business... So yeah, my design isn't finished, XenFans can't import subscriptions and I have 100's of paid subscriptions, I'm waiting to test my Wordpress + wp bridge, I'm waiting to see what can be done with bridging magento, and I'm still testing many things with Xenforo. If you've been in this "business" for 20 years like you said you have, you should know VERY WELL that you have to prepare, run tests, run test conversion, and make sure everything is in line before you do so. That is...unless all you've run are extremely small sites with no activity on them where it doesn't matter about what I've just stated, then your statement can hold some water. I'm doing all I can to move along this process but having to rely on others to get their work done is where I'm at. If everything was ready, trust me, I'd be up all night tonight to get over to xF, that's for DAMN sure. I seriously do not think you've run any successful sites from the way you speak... PS. Every single day I get asked by the people that know about this conversion (only about 10 people ATM) what the progress is because they absolutely cannot wait to move over. They are on xF's site all the time now because they love it but they are upset that they can't partake in many of the conversations there so they are getting rather antsy about the move over. In fact, some of the ask me multiple times each day to ask whether any progression has been made by the designer and Kier with the importer. And who cares if I'm complaining about a product I BOUGHT! It just so happens that once I decided I was moving to a new platform, Matt stated he was going to attempt to fix some things (that they previous stated was not a problem what so ever).
I have no problem in posting issues when I explore them in features for <insert any software here> just like when I post about the great advancements in features developers get the best of both worlds and they're praised. If they don't like that, then that is tough, I won't post all about the "great stuff" I'll be fair about it and post about the issues I see and find. For example, xenforo and they're notices, in short it's bollox, it really is I won't repeat the issues it's all been posted in another thread. Sub forum drop down menus which remain hidden again i think this is just terrible not giving us a grid system as an alternative. Smiley manager when it get's developed for xenforo - If it's good and usable they'll be praised and i'll provide good feedback if they mess that up I will not let it go and post why it's terrible just like I did with the notice system here, not at their company forums, yet. I personally made a suggestion to Matt & charles when they asked, they asked the public for suggestions & feedback not the reverse so I registered and mocked up a under the text area smiley manager with all the info. They implemented this instantly and I came back months later to find that they destroyed this by first to view the tab you first have to click the editor smiley button and to make matters worse to view more smilies they introduced a popup overlay/window (whatever devs are calling it these days) that really makes a mockup of my mockup. I put the time in to mockup this thing up, even put the time in to suggest how certain areas should fuction for usuabilty and make life easier when they have 100s of smilies even down to smilies in categories with a solid frontend solution (frontend smiley catergory switching) which not only saves space but organises smilies instead of them being dumped in some 1990 externalised window/overlay. So I guess I can related to Azzid when he feels that his concerns fall/fell on deaf ears. I don't hold it against Matt or charles, I just won't be suggestion anything at their company forums again if they take a thought out mockup and destroy it by their vision how smiley managers (frontend) should look like and function. My point, Azzidreign is doing the same, he's posting about legitimate concerns which IPB have only just now addmitted to which is resulting in them looking into it after many years. That's not gripeing, it's a discussion board, specifically this area to post your concerns and positive experiences in all areas which azzidreign is more than entitled to do.
The way i see it..your site is limited to what your software can do or is made for. IPB although has every mod you would need, Downloads, Store, Blog, Gallery, Subscriptions, and more but what does all of that do when your core software is lacking? Nothing, because people won't use it. IPB is at its dead end with evolving. I personally think that IPB 3.1.4 was the best it will ever be. In this business, people like a new refreshing feel when they visit a site. XenForo does just that, just they don't have all of the add ons that IPB has but one day they will get there. Personally for me i don't even need all of that, what i need is a great forum solution and XenForo is it. Were only going up from here. I also have around 15 years of website building/managing experience. I have seen it all..i started with PHP-Nuke back in 1996 if that tells u anything lol. I think XenForo is the software that everyone is looking for. I was a hardcore vBulletin user, i used to think that it was the bread and butter of the internet. But it too met its end..vB4 was about as worthless as pardon my language, tits on a freaking bull. They had a great thing going and could have evolved into something amazing but they failed and look where it got em? Now we have something that i have been looking for. A great community and a great software. But everyone has different needs and tastes and one forum software may not suit it, for some IPB is going to be the thing they use because they might need all of them add ons, for me I just need a great board and here i am..woot! Ok my rant is over, XF FTW!
I'll agree with you. I thought having IPC and IP.N was going to be great for my site. The thing is...IPC has so much to it and with very poor documentation that it takes someone special to really get a hold of it and create something worthy of use. IP.N on the other hand is straight garbage. They claim it to be an ecommerce solution when it's everything but that. Call it a hosting script since that seems to be what most people use it for They are improving it from the looks of it but it is still lacking multiple features that would help our sites to actually have a good shop. Through using IPS products, I've come to a realization...I'm better off with a forum software where that is the company's sole purpose...forum software. I'd rather use other products and bridge into xF so that way I know that these other products are what I need and not what IPS thinks I need... I'm excited to start using Wordpress and Magento on my site. I think I can finally start moving it in the direction I've been trying to move it for over a year now. Maybe it's just me but I think IPS is spreading themselves thin with all of their official products. Again...that's my opinion from the outside looking in...maybe they've hired more people to work on these. I just think they need a clear road map and possibly even a transparent one rather than "we have updates coming and we'll let you know about them once we've created them". That way we can see the direction and possibly provide better suggestions.
Just a fyi, there will be a native cart released for XenForo (not an official one) sometime around January or February.
Where is the difference to XF? They present upcoming features also only after implementation in an Alpha/Beta version, like IPS does. You won't get anything better than that from a reliable software company. Nothing else does the sentence of Brandon mean. Or do you have any ideas what's up to come in XF 1.2?
This is just my 2 cents, mGTB is right forums are a dying fad. 3 of my 20 friends still use a personal computer. The rest use their smart phone for the internet. And most smart phones have a app for everything. You can check your bank, pay bills, buy movie tickets, ect. Most people have no need for a computer now. The sad fact is the way people use the internet is evolving and forums are not. Every forum that I am member of is on the decline including the Xbox and Playstation forum. Greg
Ever tried to type a post with the lenght of yours on a smart phone? It's okay for Facebook or Twittercrap, but not to publish something valueable. For useless status posts, of course, you don't need a forum software.
This is true but all they use is twitter and facebook. Which is why I say the way people use the internet is evolving. Myself I am putting my money on a blog with high rez image downloads along with high rez video. All of my friends love streaming video on their phones. And blog comments can be short and sweet. If it works I plan on selling local advisement's at a premium. Greg
