Company forums good or bad idea?

[pctank]

Do you think having a forum for your hosting buisness is a good or bad idea, i see companies like burst and hg running them with good sucsess, it seems to me it allows customers to get to know staff and feel part of a community within your company, aswell customers can get support from other customers instead of opening tickets.
I think it also allows potential clients to see what existing clients feel about your service and allows them to see how helpfull support can be

What are your views on company forums, if you run one how sucsessful do you find it being?

[prydie]

I moderated on some large forums for a hosting company owned by my mate. It was great, people answered posts for the hell of it not because they were getting paid so less support time was used and therefore less out goings.

[Nortus]

Originally Posted by pctank

I think it also allows potential clients to see what existing clients feel about your service and allows them to see how helpfull support can be

Thats the real big benefit from any online business having a public forum. It generates a lot of trust.

You have to be very good though, otherwise it has the opposite effect.

[pctank]

Which i can understand if your service is going to be crap people will mention it in the forum which is NOT GOOD!!!!!