[kevcj]

I have a thread over at vbulletin.com about huddler, but I wanted to start one here.

With huddler offering so many features with their software, how does vbulletin hope to compete?

Over the past few months I have been seeing several large communities that have migrated to huddler.

People these days want more then "just" a forum.

[LifesGreatestGift]

Is there a demo out yet? I tried looking on huddler.com and couldn't find one, or any real information on the product.

--------------- Added 15 May 2012 at 17:30 ---------------

I tried visiting http://demo.huddler.com/ and its restricted.

--------------- Added 15 May 2012 at 17:33 ---------------

I think this forum uses the software. http://www.epicski.com/f/

[New Joe]

Have no idea about what you are talking about.

[kevcj]

Originally Posted by New Joe

Have no idea about what you are talking about.

Huddler is a new community software on the market. It offers a lot of built in features - reviews with rating system, forum, articles outside the forum, profiles,,,.

From what I understand, huddler works off of a revenue sharing program. The huddler has people that will help with the SEO, marketing, hosting and advertising.

One site that I visit that is ran with huddler - http://www.backyardchickens.com/

* I am not associated with backyard chickens in any shape form or fashion.

How is my community supposed to be able to offer services like this - http://www.backyardchickens.com/prod...chicken-breeds

I would love to have a review section on my forum, but finding something for vbulletin is rather difficult.

With huddler, its all built in.

[puertoblack2003]

it looks like an old style vb 2.0 http://www.huddler.com/platform/ i don't think they'll be selling the product.

[LifesGreatestGift]

Originally Posted by puertoblack2003

it looks like an old style vb 2.0 http://www.huddler.com/platform/ i don't think they'll be selling the product.

The back left image is when the EpicSki.com community was using vbulletin, and the front image is when they changed to Huddler.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/21/hud...e-communities/

[kevcj]

One of the reasons why I brought this topic up, is because the huddler communities are ranking higher and higher in the search engines in searches that I do.

When I started looking for information on chickens, backyard chickens came showing up search after search. Even though there are vbulletin powered forums with lots of good inforamtion on chickens, huddler powered communities kept showing up.

And then there is the wide range of information. The sites are not just forums, or blogs. Its forum, blog, ratings, reviews, being able to sort information, picture galleries,,,,.

[puertoblack2003]

Originally Posted by LifesGreatestGift

The back left image is when the EpicSki.com community was using vbulletin, and the front image is when they changed to Huddler.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/21/hud...e-communities/

thanks for the info. WOW 5 million in funding..that's alot, i guess vb found a competitor

[LifesGreatestGift]

My question is how does one go about getting this software as I see no pricing or download options on huddler.com

[kevcj]

Originally Posted by LifesGreatestGift

My question is how does one go about getting this software as I see no pricing or download options on huddler.com

From what I understand, you can not buy the software.

Your community is ported to huddler, hosted on their servers and the revenue is shared between the site owner and huddler.

I am going to guess the revenue sharing takes care of the hosting fees.

[Chris8]

From that point it's not your own only community, I would never touch anything that I have no absolute control over it.
BTW since we are talking about this subject how do you find SocialEngine?

[kevcj]

Originally Posted by Chris8

BTW since we are talking about this subject how do you find SocialEngine?

I like the looks of SocialEngine.

I guess you are talking about SocialEngine.net?

[LifesGreatestGift]

I would have to agree. If I could not host the script on my own server and had to rely on the creator and share profit I would not be interested.

[kevcj]

Originally Posted by LifesGreatestGift

I would have to agree. If I could not host the script on my own server and had to rely on the creator and share profit I would not be interested.

Unless the server is in your home, or you have a bill of sale for the server, its not "yours".

I understand the reluctance. But the truth of the matter is, if/when huddler changes its business strategy, vbulletin is in for a heck of a run.

There are a lot of people out there that do not want to worry about updating the software, do not want to worry about hosting issues, do not have to worry about advertising, or marketing.

Forum owners should focus on the community and the content, and not software or hosting issues.

If a little known company can offer so many features in their software, I have to ask what was jelsofts problem, and what is the problem with internet brands? Why cant vbulletin have some of the built in features that huddler has?

When I opened my first forum in 2006, I had this vision of what I wanted it to be like. 6 years later, and I have yet to be able to achieve that dream. I guess I could learn how to code and write something myself, but that would mean less time for the community and content creation.

Building the community and the content should come first. The software should be the least of my worries.

As it has stood for the past decade, vbulletin has pretty much stayed the same.

How is vbulletin hoping to compete as new forum software comes online?

[BirdOPrey5]

If Huddler got popular IB would just buy them.