How should I format the site

[JPJedi]

I have a domain that follows a certain type of current events. I am trying to decide what I want to do with the domain. I have a few option and I wanted to run them by you all and see which one you think would be the best to try.

1. Blog only site - Just a blog with ad's

2. Main Page, Blog sub-page, Will include other sub-pages for specific concentratoin on topic.

3. Forum site - Like WF with just a totally different topic.

I am looking to make a return with the site so I think 2 or 3 would be the best. Also the life of this site will be about 1.5 - 2 years. After that it will not be a good domain, partly cause of the domain name. News headlines on this topic will be avaiable pretty much 24/7 so there will be no lack of information to show or talk about, It is just how shoud I present it and work in my affiliates.

So I want to get the biggest bang of the time i have the site with minimal effort on my part, after initial setup.

JPJedi

 

[Darin]

You can kind of have a mix of 1 and 2 using Wordpress. I would suggest Wordpress since it's easy to use and incorporates all needed features of a blog as well as the ability to have specific sub-pages on a specific issue. 3 would work too but only if you can register enough members to keep it active (I could be wrong, but generally I only pay attention to forums with a high number of active members).

 

[Anarkist]

This is where people often tend to make the mistake. Proper formatting is of extreme importance.

A blog on the homepage is good only if you're expecting lots of type-in traffic. Otherwise stick a static page on the homepage, setup a blog and setup a forum.

Set it in such a way that it looks like a complete community package in itself, with the latest forum discussion as well as the latest blog posts showing on the page.

Integrate wordpress with your Vbulletin installation and let each blog post be discussed in the forums.

And make sure the Homepage design KICKS ASS!

And then sit back and promote your site