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What do people use buddy press for?

What are people using buddy press software for?

Are the majority of members using it for social communities, word press or blogger type of websites?

What are you using buddy press for?

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:54:52
  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    for me, buddypress is somewhat extended for wpmu usage.

    wpmu itselft with suitable plugins can be run as community but buddypress

    just make it easier with one click install and line of bp plugin that can

    make a community more functionality.

    so either way wpmu without buddypress install still can be used as

    social community site….

    cheers

  • Johan
    • Site Builder, Child of Zeus

    Hi

    Buddypress and the reason for all the other plugins that make mu wordpress more social confuse me. I wanted to use buddypress because I thought it’s the right thing do for my blog site. Making it more social would be a nice addition, not the core reason for creating it.

    I am just not sure where to go now. I have previously installed buddypress, then it was not easy as it was new. I am therefore inclined to go for the other plugins that make mu more social.

    More confusion: I like the buddypress themes on wpmudev.org

    Thanks

    Johan

  • Tammie
    • WordPress Wizard

    @Johan: Personally I’d say with all that BuddyPress has had done to it lately now is a great time to dive right in. Also the themes we offer here work on single install WordPress, Multisite and BuddyPress and any combination you want of those – giving you quite the choice.

    Maintaining BuddyPress really isn’t that complicated it’s more about getting some basic practices in place like moderation and management then you are set. Just like with any ‘social’ system from a forum to a network. Also the themes should make things easier on you as have theme options in many cases to at least make the updating and configuration of your site nice and simple.

    I reckon if you can add BuddyPress and there is a need for it do it – you can always turn it off and still use the theme with our themes so loose nothing.

  • Aphrodite
    • The Reaper

    May I ?

    I use it 2 ways.

    first for a student association, religious, and school community management, and with limited thematic groups just to have separate envents and activity management.

    Secondly for commercial / communicational thematic purpose, as admins can create groups and so they have a direct marketing tool to keep contact with customers.

    Take time to install it, explore it and have a look to the several sites as Sue told you. That gave me so many ideas to use it in specific ways !

  • drdave
    • The Crimson Coder

    I am trying to use BP Social thinking that it is what would do the job for my Social Network but now wonder if it’s possible to use another theme that is easier to redesign and still achieve my desired goals.

    My site is more geared toward users that want to do things like share videos, music, chat, upload photos, etc. Rarely any bloggers though I still need that functionality to try and attract some business.

    Don’t get me wrong, I truly do love BP-Social Theme, but rather put less work into the design aspect of it and be able to concentrate more on things I need to learn in the dashboard. I have so much learning and configuring to do there but trying to redesign BP-Social to fit my needs is truly a pain for me.

    Is there such a theme I can replace it with?.

    My setup is BuddyPress and WPMU and of course BP-Social.

    Thanks for any help

  • Mason
    • DEV MAN’s Sidekick

    drdave,

    To be clear, you’re looking for a theme to help your users share videos, music, photos and chat?

    If so, these all fall into the plugin territory. The theme just helps the look of your install. There are many buddypress-specific plugins to get the functions you want (many here even). I just want to make sure I understand your question correctly.

    Thanks.

  • wizzer
    • Flash Drive

    Can somebody clarify something about BuddyPress for me please.

    I want to use it to create a “community” for members of my membership site. A place for the guys to interact and post comments and questions.

    BUT I don’t want to offer either a blog or ability to add posts to my blog.

    If I use a stand alone install rather than MU is that what I achieve or is the ability to create a blog an inherent feature of BuddyPress?

    Sorry if this is a stupid, basic question but I can’t seem to find the answer – everywhere online seems to assume a basic understanding

  • foodfriendfinder
    • The Incredible Code Injector

    The concept is buddypress is a social network…meaning you don’t have to create or post a blog for content.

    You allow members to login……. and they create posts or blogs,comments,add photos,add videos,create groups,forums etc…the list is endless.

    you let your members create the content…

  • wizzer
    • Flash Drive

    Yes, I get the concept but is it possible to “prevent” users from adding blog posts. ie I want to allow them to communicate with each other, create and be active in groups & participate in forums but I don’t want to offer them either blogs or ability to add content to mine. Is that possible?

  • wecreateyou
    • The Crimson Coder

    There are a few plugins in the WPMU aresenal that help with that part. That’s what the membership plugin is for. It helps you limit set the rules of engagement. There are other plugins that help in this regard as well but I’d start with Membership.