Understanding the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks
It’s easy to get the tools mixed up, but it’s important to know the differences. Quite often (usually by executives) I’m asked the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks, here’s usually how I explain it (focusing first on usage and benefits rather than technical details):
Forums are like social mixers, where everyone is at equal level, milling about and discussing with others. These many to many communication tools allow anyone to start a topic and anyone to respond to one. Members are often at equal level, and content is usually segmented by topic. (rather than by people).
Blogs are like a keynote speech where the speaker (blogger) is in control of the discussion, but allows questions and comments from the audience.
Blogs are journals often authored by one individual, and sometimes teams. In the context of business communication, these are often used to talk with the marketplace and to join the conversation that existing external bloggers may be having.Social Networks are like topic tables at a conference luncheon. Ever been to a conference where different lunch tables had big white signs inviting people to sit and join others of like interest? It’s like that. Social networks allow members to organize around a person’s relationships or interests, rather that just focused on topic. People that know each other (or want to meet each other) will connect by a variety of common interests. These are great tools to get people of like interest to connect to each other and share information.
It’s important to know the many different tools in your tool chest as every type of accessory fulfills a different need. Before you jump to tools, you should first understand who your community is, where they are, how they use social technologies, and most importantly, what they’re talking about. To learn more about the many forms of web marketing, see this updated list (now in Italian, Indonesian and French).
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[…] Tool Analogies for the Online Impaired Jeremiah Owyang uses clear terms to explain the differences between forums, blogs, and social networ… Forums are like social mixers, where everyone is at equal level, milling about and discussing with […]
I like how you used the analogy of blogs as keynote speeches…what about comments as the Q & A session?
Exactly Dan ( I alluded to that in the description)
Not to be nit-picky but I’d argue that social networks are more like the lunch tables in high school - different cliques at different areas of the lunch room.
-Wayne
Wayne
That’s not nit-picky. I agree, there’s some affinity and relationship preferences with both lunch tables and workshop tables.
[…] side of the cutting edge (not my quote, but I love it) Jeremiah Owyang does a great job of trying to differentiate between blogs, forums and social […]
Love this J.O. Concise enough to share liberally
Yep, another post to point folk at…
Hey Jeremiah, I wrote about this a few weeks ago, but didn’t include social networks;
http://www.liubinskas.com/blog/2008/01/15/blogs-are-conferences-forums-are-barcamps/
I agree re: forums (which are making a comeback) and blogs, but I think social networks as you’ve described them are only one of the types that exist. Your description fits ‘Dogster’ or ‘Minti’ but not Facebook.
I’d describe facebook as more of a rolling reunion festival. A week long event where all the people from your life drop in and out and you get quick glimpses in your life. Sometimes at the festival a clump of old baseball buddies gather together and the topic turns to the World Series, but it’s fleeting.
I’ll see if I get a chance to write more about this today.
Cheers
Jeremiah,
Long-term readers of your blog will know that I don’t always agree with you.
On this post, however, I think you’ve done a FANTASTIC job of finding a metaphor that just works.
Yes, I know that other commenters have wanted to tweak the edges, but the detail isn’t the issue here - it’s the big picture that you’d nailed as far as I’m concerned.
Thanks tremedously!
Mark in West Sussex, England
Thanks Mark, that means a lot!
Great analogy
[…] Understanding the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks […]
Blogs seems to be the less democratic tool…
Can we expect that in the long term, people keeping personal blogs will shift massively towards social media? That could be an opportunity for Blogger or Wordpress (content portability, social media features…)
If so, will the long tail get shorter or will just change its nature?
Marco
Yes, blogs are more of a one person in charge, a form of representative monarchy –except that feedback will happen, even if they don’t want it. (trackbacks can indicate other thoughts, even if comments are not enabled)
Reichweiten in Reichweite…
Understanding the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks
Forums are like social mixers, Blogs are like a keynote speech, Social Networks are like topic tables at a conference luncheon.
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Pl clarify what are the main differences between Web Forum and Social Networing (logicaly & technicaly)
[…] Understanding the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks (tags: strategy socialmedia blogs socialnetworking) […]
Thanks, Jeremiah, for that clear explanation using metaphors that everyone can relate to. I’m curious as to whether you’ll add on to this post with metaphors for other tools. For example, I’ve been trying to figure out the value and essence of Twitter. I’m starting to get it from some of your postings, including your one on rating ads for the Superbowl. And a metaphor would anchor the concept even more.
In any case, thanks for boiling things down to their essence so that I can start to apply in my world.
[…] Understanding the difference between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks - Et par udmærkede definitioner på blogs, forums og sociale netværk og forskellene herpå. […]
Der Unterschied zwischen Foren, Blogs und Social Networks…
Häufig bekommt man die Frage gestellt, ob man nun sein Forum zu einem Blog oder Social Network umbauen muss, um dem Web 2.0 Trend folgen zu können.Keineswegs…! Vielmehr haben alle 3 ihren Stellenwer……
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So where do Wiki’s fit in?
Wikis are the collaborative white boards or the libraries.
[…] 14, 2008 by drewbernard Jeremiah Owyang’s analogy of a blog being like “a keynote speech where the speaker (blogger) is in control of the discussion, but allows questions a…“ really strikes a cord with me. I have been thinking a lot about the role blogging can and […]
Great post. I agree with Mick’s comment that the definition of “social networks” does not fit all kinds of social network tools, but it’s a good start anyway. As soon as people understand what a social network (tool) is, we can start telling them about the different flavors.
I still find the “visual definitions” of wiki’s, rss, blogs, etc in short video’s by Common Craft also say it all.
[…] post can respond to the replies. And so it continues… I really like the way Jeremiah Owyang describes the blogger as being the “keynote speaker” of the blog. It’s a simple definition that makes a lot of […]
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Understanding the differences between Forums, Blogs, and Social Networks…