You're probably under pressure to use the latest technology. Your client wants to use it, your boss wants to use it and your vendor certainly wants you to use it.
A small percentage of the people you're trying to reach want to use it too.
The problem with the latest technology is that most people don't use it yet. Worse, most people probably don't want to learn how to use it. It's too new, no mainstream appeal. You're cutting down on potential members by using something shinier.
Simply being old is not a good enough reason to replace a medium that everyone knows how to use. E-mailing lists, forums and chat-rooms still work perfectly fine.
It's nearly always better to pick a medium that most of your community knows how to use.
Great post, Rich, and an important reminder that the strength of a community is almost never about the technology. As a community provider, spend less time fiddling with the technology and most of the time on community engagement. It's the latter efforts that will really pay off!
Bryan | @BryanPerson
Posted by: Bryan Person | Wednesday, 09 September 2009 at 13:44
Clay Shirky says the same thing in 'Here Comes Everyone' - the older technologies have higher rates of adoption and therefore will be used. Something on the bleeding edge may just confuse your community.
Posted by: Angus Parker | Thursday, 10 September 2009 at 06:01