In preparation for our first product launch, I had originally installed Automattic’s new forum package called bbPress. I’ve always been a forum brat and I like seeing support / suggestions out in the open, so I figured something that integrated in with the Wordpress user system would be a nice fit. I was overall happy with that choice until tonight when I clicked Twitter’s help link and noticed that the bulk of their support system had moved to Get Satisfaction, a site that “provides people-powered customer service for just about everything.” I had been following the site’s progress for some time up until launch, but then found I wasn’t having problems with any of the services I use and lost track of them for several months. Tonight I was pleasantly surprised to find flourishing communities not only for Twitter, but also Facebook, Tumblr, Google, Apple, Pownce, and wide mix of both rising and established companies. Then I asked myself…why should Technarium resonate all alone? What are the benefits of joining the Get Satisfaction movement?

Exposure on Get Satisfaction is a marketing opportunity in itself
As much as I would love to build a flourishing user and support community who lives on this site, it’s hard for a little guy to get started while being that self-contained. Using Get Satisfaction instead of a hosted forum creates an ad-hoc partnership with a fast growing community of folks who have proven that they love fun applications and participating in a knowledge base. Each user’s tumblelog-inspired dashboard creates a golden opportunity to showcase your real product (for better or worse) to an even wider audience.

I’m a big fan of Rubyred Labs
After my experiences with these guys during the brief life of Valleyschwag, it was easy to see that these guys understood customer support. They proved that for all but spaceships and FDA regulated products, it’s better to be open and honest than miss a ton of great marketing opportunities by only owning up to perfection or catastrophe. Anything they believe in is worth a fair shot in my book.

Theming bbPress to look like the site was going to be a pain in the ass
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m too lazy at the moment to learn how to make a bbPress theme. Get Satisfaction saves the day with easy to embed widgets and RSS feeds for just about everything.

Considering these points, the decision to test the waters of THE Web 2.0 support site was an easy one to make. I would still love to find an application for bbPress (forum brat, remember?), but right now Satisfaction is a force more worth taking advantage of.