Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#1

Post by OoTheNigerian » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 10:37 AM UTC

I am trying to create an online community (not social network)for Nigerian Internet Entrepreneurs (Globally) and I am wondering what I should use.

I am am looking for something we can use to discuss issues, collaborate, share news, stories, ideas etc. I am familiar with Google Groups via Lean Startup Circle but is seems a bit boring. Facebook Groups require people to join FB not including the additional distractions from logging in. I have not used Yahoo Groups in a long while so I do not know the state.

Are there other options asides the one I mentioned? Of course it would need the special moderating features, and the ability to be invite only etc.

I would really appreciate your feedback.

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#2

Post by AN447 » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 10:39 AM UTC

GroupSpaces

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#3

Post by davidw » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 10:41 AM UTC

LinkedIn is another option.

In terms of 'boring', what should be interesting is the content, not the presentation. HN itself, is pretty 'boring', isn't it?

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#4

Post by OoTheNigerian » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:04 AM UTC

AN447 wrote: post #2

GroupSpaces

From my understanding GroupSpaces is ideal for hierarchically structured groups e.g oExecutive to members. This is more like a flattened distributed groups where person to person interaction is the way.

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#5

Post by pbhjpbhj » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:06 AM UTC

Other option: self hosted groupware, please specify?

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#6

Post by ody » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:12 AM UTC

You could setup your own NNTP server: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_News_Transfer_Protocol

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#7

Post by Tichy » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:25 AM UTC

ody wrote: post #6

You could setup your own NNTP server: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_News_Transfer_Protocol

Nobody has access to NNTP anymore. You could complement it with a web gateway perhaps - what are good open source ones?

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#8

Post by OoTheNigerian » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:34 AM UTC

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #5

Other option: self hosted groupware, please specify?

I wouldn't want to host anything extra. I want wamothing people can join with only an email addy. LinkedIn and Facebook require a lot(filling profile) as basic.

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#9

Post by desigooner » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:36 AM UTC

Out of those 3 options, I'd stick with Google Groups. It's easy to moderate/manage and search through content. Facebook Groups seem very distracting to me and until they fine tune the notifications part, its a wee bit gimmicky. Yahoo groups, well I haven't used that in a while but it certainly was susceptible to spamming a lot more than google groups I've run.

Re: Ask HN: Which should I use: Yahoo Groups, Facebook Groups or Google Groups?

#10

Post by rakkhi » Mon, Oct 11, 2010, 11:39 AM UTC

I would say really do some analysis on your audience. I found these questions helps: What is going interesting or engaging about my content / group to other people? E.g. is it going to get them funding, network contacts, ideas for their business, problem solving

Also consider that their maybe already be some good groups for this content on Linked-in, Meetups etc.

If you have some form of this already What about my content / group are or willl be people responding to? How can I use that to get more attention?

Then do some analysis of the pro's and cons of each group based on your analysis and requirements e.g. I was reading that Yahoo groups has the largest number of people currently, Facebook groups is new and ideally suited if you want primarily have friends on Facebook contributing.

I also like the idea of linked in groups if you want this to primarily be a professional focused network