Free Website Content - Internet Communication Vehicles
Email, Instant Messaging, Blogs, RSS, Forums
and Listservs: What's Next?
By S. Housley
How do we keep Internet communication simple?
Let's start by taking a look at the different methods used
to communicate on the web. It is important to understand
the nuances and benefits of the different forms.
Email
This is the most popular communication method. Users typically
use desktop software to receive, read and respond to messages.
Some users use web-based mail and manage messages in a web
browser like Internet Explorer. The downfall to email communication
is that anyone can send email messages to anyone else if
they have (or guess) the correct email address. This system's
Achilles heel is its simplicity and universal popularity.
Email accounts are often burdened by spam
or unsolicited email. Despite software developers having
created complex spam filters and legislators having introduced
new anti-spam legislation, the problem persists and spam
continues to burden email as a messaging medium.
Email Clients - http://www.messaging-software.net/e-mail-client-software.htm
Spam Software - http://www.email-software.org/spam-filter-software.htm
Instant Messaging
Instant messaging allows users to "chat" in real time. Users
can send text messages to anyone online and receive instant
replies if the user is also online. The "instant" fad gave
way to parental fears as children made "friends" online.
With no way to confirm if "friends" are who they represent
themselves to be, and multiple security holes, instant messaging
has taken a back seat in internet communication.
Instant Messaging - http://www.instant-messaging-software.com
Blogs
Online journals and daily diaries have taken hold. Some
blogs are interactive, allowing users to respond and comment
on posts. Locating topic-specific blogs that provide relevant
and interesting content on a daily basis can be a challenge.
The nature of a blog is to contain fresh public content.
As our lives become more complicated blogs are often abandoned,
as they require constant updating.
Blog Connections - http://www.blog-connection.com
RSS
RSS is the latest messaging medium and shows genuine promise
as a means to communicate. RSS files are produced as XML
files and are designed to provide content summaries of news
or information. The biggest benefit to RSS is that it does
not have the spam issues inherent to email; users opt-in
to the RSS feeds that interest them.
RSS Specifications - http://www.rss-specifications.com
Forums / Newsgroups
A forum is an online discussion group. Forums can be newsgroups,
or they can be web-based discussion groups. Forums have
proven themselves as valuable business resources - often
creating communities of customers helping customers. Without
moderation and oversight they can potentially create an
unfriendly environment.
Message Board Software - http://www.messaging-software.net/message-board-software.htm
Listservs
Liststervs are mailing list programs for communicating with
other people who have subscribed to the same list. Using
e-mail, you can participate in listservs pertaining to your
topics of interest. When you submit a message to the server,
your message is relayed to all on the listserv. You receive
messages from other participants via e-mail.
Yahoo Groups - http://www.yahoogroups.com
What's Next?
Internet communication is intrinsically tied to the
hardware options available. Wireless technology has accelerated
the development of messaging software, opening the market
to a dizzying array of devices for web access. Where we
were once tied to a keyboard and mouse, we will soon be
navigating the web with our voices from a moving automobile,
or browsing via screens in our eyewear, with tiny cameras
reading our eye movements to move the cursor and make selections.
Our interactive conversations will include more and more
participants at once. Evaluating the many options and choosing
what works best for you is the first step to effectively
communicating on the web.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net
a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless
messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can
be found at http://www.feedforall.com
, http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com
, and http://www.small-business-software.net
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource box
is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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