Message Boards Using a message board is like leaving a message on a notice board at work; everyone can see it and it will stay pinned up there for the recipient to read.
Message boards started off as newsgroups that were mainly made up from text and weren’t particularly attractive to use. As time went by, the groups became more popular and some measure of control had to be introduced.
Message boards became easier to use and far more attractive, operating just like a pin board. Rules were put in place to control some of the content. People then began to monitor the message boards to ensure that everyone adhered to rules such as the prohibition of swearing and any rudeness that could be offensive to others.
Someone will usually start a subject off; this is called a thread and this is posted in position for anyone to read. If other users read it and wish to offer their opinion, comment or advice, then they can click on the message and reply to the person. Everyone who visits that site can read your message and can also comment on it. The message is then left attached to the “thread” for the original user to return to and read later.
See the message board on the YouWriteOn author’s website.
Online Chat Online chat is communication between people, usually through text, and can also include voice and video images. Everything happens in real time, involving no time delay. However, a few people are needed in a chat room for it to be effective. Otherwise it is like talking to yourself!
People can communicate in set space called rooms and these rooms are usually categorised by the subject that is discussed in them.
Users can add messages on the screen for everyone to read and respond to. They can also choose the option of sending a few private messages to each other and these messages won’t appear on the main screen. If people want to continue a private conversation, then most users would continue in another private room so that they do not confuse the users in the main room.
Users often adopt nicknames because it is advisable not to give away too many private details, telephone numbers, addresses, etc. in these chat rooms. It is simply a group of people sending messages on different topics to each other. The focus could be sport teams, pop bands etc, or simply a bit of flirting!
Rooms are often moderated by people so that online behaviour can be monitored and the rules enforced. If, for example, inappropriate language is being used, the guilty parties are given a warning and if they then continue to break the rules, they may be thrown out and excluded from the site.
Summary Message boards and online chat are both effective ways of letting visitors to your website communicate with each other and exchange ideas. You will need a significant number of visitors to your website to ensure that online chat works well and, ideally, they will have a shared interest to chat about. Message boards, on the other hand, can be built up over time. They can be used as a source of reference by visitors to a site, a resource to which they can refer when looking for information on a particular topic.
Find Out More If you would like visitors to interact on your website contact Zarr to discuss your requirements.
