Ning is a great online community package that’s getting better every day.
Kickapps will let you create an online community in minutes.
Liveworld will let you add a community feature you every page of your existing site.
Anyone can create a Facebook group in seconds, and invite hundreds of within minutes.
Basecamp, Dropbox, Google Docs makes online collaboration easier than ever.
Most of the time you don’t need to pay $60k for a special online community interface. It’s quicker, cheaper and far less problematic to launch your community right now…for free.
If you can’t highlight huge benefits of having a tailor-made interface, don’t ask for one. Save the money and use the 3 month development time more wisely.
Rich
Fair point about cost but, organisations often need hand holding through the process, want the look and feel to reflect their brand etc. I had a quote this week of £170k to build an internal network! (No, I won't use them).
It's not really/just about the technology; that's more of a red herring in the grand scale of it all.
Peter
Posted by: Peter Gold | Saturday, 20 December 2008 at 12:45
My concern with using third-party services like those you mention is the issue of control, flexibility and scalability. You don't always have full control over the functionality or design of your community, or the data. You are also relying on that company to look after/protect your member's information.
They can be a good way of cutting costs in the short term, but as the site develops and becomes more popular you may find it difficult to move away from that service.
You can lose flexibility and control, but save costs (in the short term, at least). It's a definite toss up.
- Martin
Posted by: Martin Reed | Saturday, 20 December 2008 at 21:35
Rich, your point is well taken. My biggest specific concern would be the ability to export your data out of those free services.
+ John
Posted by: John Norris | Monday, 22 December 2008 at 05:34