Message boards?

...should i / shouldn't i?

[lee_sufc]

For a while now I have been considering the use of a forum on my website.

Basically, I was wondering what people's opinions were of them and what the main advantages / disadvantages are.

[wheel]

Cons: - A lot of work to get started. More than you'd expect.
- if they're successful, they're also a lot of work.
- if they're not successful, you end up with this dead, stinky fish hanging off the end of your site.

Pros: -Very sticky. If they're successful you can get a huge base of very regular visitors as well as building a good brand.
-Operation and subsequent participation in an industry forum can help brand you as an expert in your field.