Forum vs. social media and AI
Sustainable support. Collective knowledge. Genuine independence.
Not a relic of the noughties,
but relevant again
Before social media came along, forums were the central place for community, support and product feedback.
Today, they are experiencing a renaissance in certain niches , not out of nostalgia, but because they work more reliably in the long term.
“A forum is not an outdated tool. It is part of a future-proof support strategy.”
“Forums are not a gimmick, but strategic customer loyalty.”
Advantages of forums:
► Knowledge, structured & available
A forum stores questions, solutions and experiences, permanently and searchable. Even older products without active support can still be discussed.
The result is a self-learning knowledge system that:
- Support teams relieved
- takes users seriously
- builds a community around your brand
“Forums are not a gimmick, but strategic customer loyalty.”
►Perfect SEO, without any click costs
Forum posts are indexed. Good answers rank on Google, permanently!
An active forum thus becomes an SEO driver with a long-term effect:
- Better visibility for technical terms and long-tail keywords
- Qualified traffic without ongoing advertising budgets
- Relevant content with real added value
- Human interaction is a valuable Google ranking factor
► Instead of AI: human & authentic
Artificial intelligence can answer many questions quickly, but forums offer something else: authentic, human exchange. They show how users think, which solutions really help and where existing content fails.
AI-supported systems can even access forum content. But they cannot replace the discussion, experience and diversity of real users.
A well-maintained forum not only provides support, but also valuable data for your own AI systems or chatbots.
“Forums are not an alternative to AI. They are the substance from which AI can learn.”
► Instead of social media: Full control
Your own forum (like your own website) creates a clear space for your community: without algorithms, advertising pressure or external influences.
- Full control over content, access and display
- Permanent visibility, independent of platform logic
- Freedom from changing prices or rules
- More data protection, the data stays with you
- No third-party advertising, not even from competitors
- No distraction from irrelevant content
- Planning security – social media comes and goes (see MySpace, Facebook, X). Your forum stays – on your domain.
“Social media sometimes shows your competitors’ ads right next to your content.”
Prerequisites:
►Critical mass: no discussion without users
A forum thrives on exchange. It needs users for that.
What a forum needs:
- Clear structure and thematic guidance
- Moderation by team or power user
- Patience until a momentum of its own develops
The following applies in practice:
- At least 1000 registered or 50-100 active members are necessary for real dynamics.
“Without active exchange, every forum is just an empty shell.”
► Moderation: actively leading instead of just managing
A forum without moderation quickly appears empty, confusing or even hostile. Good support is crucial:
- Clear structure and thematic guidance provide orientation for new users.
- Moderation by a team or dedicated power users keeps the discussion going.
- Appreciation and response to contributions motivate further participation.
“A forum is not a self-runner! It has to be enlivened in order to revitalize.”
Our experience with forums
We do not recommend forums out of nostalgia – but out of conviction. They make strategic sense, are sustainable and strengthen digital self-determination.
Social media remains important – for reach and initial contacts. But when it comes to long-term exchange and knowledge building, a forum is often the better choice.
Ideally, both channels work together: Social media as a source of inspiration, the forum as a home for content.
“A forum is not a fashion – it’s infrastructure. If you take your community seriously, you don’t rely on likes – but on exchange, relevance and independence.”
Our forum expertise
TBA Berlin has many years of experience in setting up and providing technical support as well as co-moderation with the following forum solutions:
- XENFORO – an established, professional forum system with integrated CMS and diverse community functions
- WordPress-Forum solutions – customized for projects of any size
Example from practice
The ProcessWire-developer community shows how a forum can create real added value for users and providers over the years.
