Best WordPress Forum Plugins
Written by Kseniia Burilova
So you want to build a forum on your WordPress site? Well, you’re in luck. There are dozens of WordPress forum plugins to choose from. Even better, most are inexpensive, easy to use, and quick to install (even with limited technical experience).
But it’s also important to be cautious when picking a WordPress forum plugin. Not all are of the same quality. And making the wrong choice now can lead to significant amounts of wasted resources further down the line as you attempt to shift to a platform with the features you require.
In this post, we’re going to look at 10 of the top plugins currently available in the WordPress plugin directory and through third-party marketplaces. Once you’ve finished reading, you’ll know exactly which solution is best for you and your community.
Sound good? Let’s dive in.
What Are the Benefits of WordPress Plugins for Forums?
You might be asking yourself, “What are the benefits of WordPress plugins over fully-hosted third-party solutions like Facebook groups or more traditional forum software?”
This is a good question. And to answer it properly, we need to look at the main reasons that community-builders opt for plugins over other alternatives.
Here’s a quick rundown of the main benefits of WordPress forum plugins:
- Inexpensive – Generally speaking, WordPress plugins will cost you less than other solutions, in part because hosting and maintenance are your responsibility.
- Easy to install – Installing a WordPress plugin is as simple as clicking a few buttons. Configuration may require a little more effort, but it’s usually minimal
- Integrate into your site’s existing design – Most WordPress forums will integrate seamlessly with your site’s existing design, so you don’t need to worry about changes to branding, navigation, and the overall look and feel.
- Beginner-friendly admin tools – WordPress plugins are usually built with beginners in mind. So while you’ll have access to advanced features if you need them, day-to-day admin tasks are unlikely to be a chore or require technical knowledge.
Benefits of Running a Forum on Your Own Website
Let’s assume that you already recognize the value of an engaged audience and you’re sold on the benefits of WordPress forum plugins. You might still be unsure about whether or not running an online community is a good use of your time, especially when compared to other tasks that drive a more explicit return on investment (ROI).
While heading a forum does require work (although many people tend to overestimate the amount of input required), the rewards are significant. And if you’re on the fence about launching a community, it’s helpful to be aware of the main benefits.
Here are the top reasons to run an online forum from a business perspective:
Build engagement with your audience
Forums enable you to build engagement with your audience. When your potential customers repeatedly return to your website to discuss topics that are of interest to them, they will form a deeper connection with your brand.
Monetization opportunities
Even if you don’t account for paid communities, forums offer a myriad of monetization options, from premium sub-groups to in-post advertising to gated content. And if you ever decide to sell your business, your forum will almost certainly increase its value.
“Own” your audience’s online home
If you decide to host your community on a third-party platform like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Reddit, you don’t really “own” your members. Facebook can choose to ban you on a whim. By hosting your forum on your domain, you’re in control.
Easy to outsource day-to-day tasks
Running a forum isn’t as time and resource-intensive as many imagine. Your most active members will do a significant chunk of the work when it comes to contributing to conversations and starting new threads. And it’s always possible to hire somebody to take care of day-to-day admin tasks.
Improve your value proposition
An active online space where your customers can come to engage with topics they care about, solve problems, and meet new people is an excellent addition to your value proposition, especially if you’re selling online products or services.
How Much Do WordPress Forum Plugins Cost?
WordPress plugins are usually more economical when compared to fully hosted solutions and standard software packages.
That said, you should expect to pay for advanced functionality. There are many excellent free options, which will suffice for running a basic community. But if you need access to a full feature kit, as you likely will as your membership grows, you will need to purchase a paid plan.
Developers tend to generate revenue from their plugins in one of three ways:
- Monthly subscriptions – In a subscription model, you pay a monthly fee for access to advanced features and functionality. The benefit of this type of payment plan is that you receive ongoing updates, maintenance, and, often, dedicated customer service.
- Paid add-ons – Some developers opt to monetize their plugins by offering paid add-ons, which extend the core feature-set. If you opt for a plugin in this category, be careful to add up the total cost of all the add-ons you require before parting with your money, as the price can quickly add up.
- Paid “Pro” version – Developers may offer a “Pro” version of their plugin, which will include extra features, for a one-off fee. The downside of this model is that site-owners rarely receive any ongoing additional services.
Top 10 WordPress Forum Plugins: Reviews, Features, & Pricing
Over the last several years, online retailers have had to adapt to surging prices for cost-per-click and banner ads. A mix of variables, including increased competition and sophisticated digital ad strategies from large retailers, has led to a situation in which platforms like Google Ads are delivering ever-smaller returns.
Forums can help remedy this issue. You control all advertising space on your forum, and this allows you to advertise practically for free to both new and existing customers. Options for advertising include in-content ads, banner ads, dedicated forums for new products, and email digests.
Crucially, you can also use forums to test engagement and clicks on your paid ad campaigns before launching them on third-party ad platforms.
Your forum offers opportunities to collect both qualitative and quantitative data from your members.
Most platforms have in-depth analytics dashboards which provide helpful data-backed insights about customer demographics, psychographics, online behavior, product preferences, and more. In many cases, this kind of data can’t be gathered by tracking activity on other pages of your ecommerce site like product listings.
Forums also make the collection of qualitative data much easier. Most forum platforms have features for adding polls and surveys to posts, which can be useful if you require responses to a specific question. As you build engagement with your community, you can also ask for more general feedback about product issues, suggested features, customer service experience, and so on.
Brand transparency, which refers to an organization’s level of openness, honesty, and willingness to state and pursue its values, is highly valued by consumers. In one study, 94% of participants said they would stay loyal to a transparent brand. In addition, 75% of that number agreed that they would pay more for products and services from a transparent brand.
Having a forum allows you to display the human face of your brand. Forum topics can be added to reflect the values you stand for, especially in relation to social initiatives. And customers can interact directly with members of your team in a more personal, informal capacity.
By offering a space for customers to share product experiences and tips, you reduce the burden on your customer support team.
Some eCommerce retailers use forums exclusively to provide customer support and build a searchable repository of past queries.
While this is a perfectly acceptable route to take, it’s important to remember that it’s not an either-or scenario. Many general forums include subsections for customer support. Alternatively, some brands choose to run two separate forums – one for support and one for topic discussion.
In either case, support costs are reduced. Often, members will reply to queries. And customers can also search for existing replies to similar questions.
Online communities leverage a fundamental human instinct – the desire to be part of a group. In a study by The Governance Lab of New York University, 77% of respondents described online communities as their most important groups. In another study, a majority of forum users reported feeling empowered as a result of participation.
Forum involvement requires investments of time and knowledge from customers and thereby increases engagement and loyalty, especially when these investments are rewarded. Forums also give customers opportunities to feel heard, seen, and valued, all feelings that will ultimately be associated with your brand.
Retailers can use forums to nurture brand advocates and encourage past customers to drive referrals.
By rewarding community members with discounts, prizes, early-bird specials, advance notifications of product releases, and so on, you are increasing trust and engagement directly. This has the effect of cementing relationships with past buyers, who are much more likely to promote your online store and products to friends as a result.
Given the general decline of loyalty programs in a retail setting, forums provide a venue for you to connect with and reward customers in a meaningful and mutually beneficial way.
Many buyers will want to discuss your products, share advice, and troubleshoot problems after completing checkout. By allowing them to do this on your forum, you add another dimension to the overall customer experience.
A typical eCommerce customer journey ends after the purchase stage. Purchasers often receive follow-up marketing emails but little else. When you encourage people to join your forum, however, you continue to build a relationship with them into the future.
Creating extra positive experiences for shoppers significantly increases the likelihood that they will form a positive impression of your brand, make repeat purchases, and refer others.
Your “value proposition” is the total package of benefits that you extend to customers (including but not limited to your unique selling points). Prospective buyers will usually opt for eCommerce retailers that offer the best propositions.
Having a forum expands the package of benefits you offer to customers, bolstering your overall value proposition. By giving customers privileges along with a space to discuss and share thoughts and ideas with other like-minded people, you lift your brand above your competition.
Forums also deliver a proven ROI, with one study showing a 4,530% return on the average amount invested in each member.
Your “value proposition” is the total package of benefits that you extend to customers (including but not limited to your unique selling points). Prospective buyers will usually opt for eCommerce retailers that offer the best propositions.
Having a forum expands the package of benefits you offer to customers, bolstering your overall value proposition. By giving customers privileges along with a space to discuss and share thoughts and ideas with other like-minded people, you lift your brand above your competition.
Forums also deliver a proven ROI, with one study showing a 4,530% return on the average amount invested in each member.
Your “value proposition” is the total package of benefits that you extend to customers (including but not limited to your unique selling points). Prospective buyers will usually opt for eCommerce retailers that offer the best propositions.
Having a forum expands the package of benefits you offer to customers, bolstering your overall value proposition. By giving customers privileges along with a space to discuss and share thoughts and ideas with other like-minded people, you lift your brand above your competition.
Forums also deliver a proven ROI, with one study showing a 4,530% return on the average amount invested in each member.
Conclusion
Picking a WordPress forum plugin is a big task. But it’s also an essential one.
Even though doing so might seem like a chore, thoroughly evaluating all available options will pay off in the long run. And failure to account for all your requirements at this early stage can lead to serious issues further down the line.
You don’t need to take every platform for a test drive, but acquainting yourself with the various plugins’ features will enable you to make an informed choice.
Oh, and don’t forget to give PeerBoard’s free plan a go. You’ll have access to an extensive set of features, and you’ll be full control of your site design. Even better, setup is fast and straightforward, even if you don’t have any tech expertise.
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