Would like to share my thoughts about Wix Forum directions.
One way of developing the Wix Forum app could be towards standard functionalities of popular social networks like Facebook. I could see that some people are asking this. For me this is not business and customer wise development. Wix Forum will never be Facebook and/or LinkedIn. People will continue to use those networks regardless the functionalities of Wix Forum. If trying to copy, WIx Forum will always be 'Johny come lately'. :)
What I think Wix Forum should focus on is to have functionalities to better serve customers of Wix Sites by providing visitors different and focused experiences. To attract subject-matter experts, something that you cannot find or rarely can be found on Facebook.
By saying this, here are some functionalities that need to be introduced soon. Very soon.
Permissions on individual categories. If I want to create generic group, is much more appropriate to create it on Facebook rather than on Wix Forum and/or Wix Mobile App. But if I want to create a group for my customers/visitors with reach experiences, I would rather create category or subcategory and make permissions to some site members and/or group of site members. By having categories people can use richness of the posts like attachments, embedded HTML, several photos spread across the post, links and different headings. Unfortunately, the functionality of securing some categories on category level is not introduced yet.
Inserting related links. Posts needs to have capabilities for easier inserting related post links from the forum and/or categories. So far, trying to find related posts is difficult - especially on mobile. You need to open another window, search, then copy the link, return back to the post and paste it. And so on. The related links can be inserted similar like in Wix Answers. To be even better, when you insert a link, image and/or excerpt to be inserted as well (it will make the posts much more useful and attractive).
Copy/paste images. This is standard feature in many forums and social networks. It is more convenient to grab a screenshot or copy an image and paste it in the post. Even this particular post could have been more attractive if I was able to paste some images instead of saving them first on disk and then inserting in the post. It is too much effort for short posts or sharing quick ideas.
Draft posts. If you want to create well thought post, it is not possible to create it from scratch and in one breadth. Also draft posts could feel the gap for not having the functionality of scheduling posts as well.
Better integration with Wix Mobile App. So far, functionality of creating forum posts from Wix Mobile is limited and in some cases buggy. In other forum post I have mentioned that links from wix forum posts are not integrated with Wix Mobile App.
Approved answer. If the post is some kind of question, the moderators and/or site members to be able to point that some particular comment is Approved or Verified Answer. That way people could easier see what are the answers.
Dev plans. While Wix policy is not to disclose the new feature introduction, I believe that this is not good for the customers. It is understandable that time schedules in development are not accurate, but at least to know the directions of Wix Forum so that we can make appropriate plans for the development of our wix forum. By being blank on this, somehow I am forced to look for other solutions to satisfy some particular need.
Corvid. Good thing is that Wix has introduced Corvid for Wix Forum posts and this could be the direction for further developments. For example, to insert Corvid code within forum posts that will 'talk' to some databases and receive live information from somewhere.
There are other things that Wix Forum could be improved. For the time being, Wix Forum product managers could evaluate some of the popular forums apps. Perhaps Wix could charge for advanced features to compensate for the extra development costs.
Happy to see if someone can comment and/or provide some other suggestions. Thanks.
I particularly like your post because of your statement about not being a social network - even if just because that is not the direction I want my own forum to go.
Permissions on individual categories. - I would love this, especially since it is impossible to create a separate forum on the same site. I believe quite a few requests have been made for this and Moderators reply was that they are looking into the options seriously. but I guess I'll let them speak for themselves.
Inserting related links.
It took me a while to understand what you mean until I tried replying to your post. Then I got it. I think. If for example I wanted to refer to certain points in your comment, it would be so helpful if their were a direct way of "Quoting" it. In a previous forum I used, it worked like this:
1. On the relevant comment, click on three dots button > Quote
2. A draft of a new comment with excerpt of the relevant comment + direct link to relevant comment, would appear beneath all existing comments. You could then add your own text to new comment draft and publish it or copy the content to any post you wish. Once you published the new comment, the "quote" inside would be formatted differently and clicking on it would open the quoted comment.
How did you envision this?
Copy/paste images. That would be So Awesome.
Approved answer. Currently you can make a comment Top Comment. Although it does not yet actually appear at the top of all the comments, I believe moderator stated that they are working on this. I would've liked a little more options to tag a comment aside from Top Comment which is why I suggested this. What do you think? You could then decide to make a tag stating Approved answer or anything else you might need.
100% agree. Also special like for the solution/example of related posts.
Once again thank you @venko gligorov for a well thought out and written feedback piece. We love these! Permissions on individual categories. We're in the final development stages on this one and will be releasing it soon. You will be able even make the categories paid! It will be awesome! Approved answer. This functionality already exists. We repurposed "Top Comment" for it. We will expand on the "Q&A", "Support" forum direction with more functionality in the near term. Better integration with Wix Mobile App. So I'm glad to say that Wix App is now not behind the web in terms of the core functionality. What do you mean links from forum posts are not integrated with Wix Mobile App? Copy/paste images. Draft posts. We'll consider them more. Dev plans. We understand your concern here. Will see what we can do. Corvid. Now you can read forum posts and categories, soon you will be able write forum posts and categories :)
@Domas Sabockis — I can’t find an “approved answer” option anymore. Did this get removed lately?
Approved answer/Best Answer is now available on Questions only :)
@Domas Sabockis This is very useful option Domas. I like it a lot.
Thank you @Domas Sabockis
Top Comment could be used, Yes.
Looks like the links from the email message is driving the user to the right post in the Wix Mobile App.
About Corvid, that is good that it will be possible to create Posts with Posts. What I am referring is the possibility to add Corvid code within the post itself. For example, when I create a post with some text, and then insert Corvid code that will take data from Data Collection and presented within the post like list, table or something.
I could see that there are improvements in the Forum and I am glad. Permissions on Categories are important - can't wait to try them. Also the flexibility of the width of the Forum Post layout is highly needed - for monetization and for related links and information. Forum is part of the web site and the main goal for us is to attract people for the products and services on the site - not necessarily the Forum itself alone. By securing some categories on the site, it could generate some revenues though.
Thanks again.
The "Facebook Style" of the forum with its comments and the way answers (comments) are shown was the first thing that i noticed negatively when i tried out.
Forum is much improved now.