Hi,

I would like to know your opinions about the shoutbox and the whole idea. Is it good, what could be done better. I won't hide that I am asking this question because I run site with free shoutboxes and I would like to hear some feedback about them.

So are you using them, are you glad with them, what can be done better?

Cheers!

That sounds like an innovative addition to a blog.

If they are free, and don't have ads, I'll probably try that.

That's a good idea.!!

I remember them being really popular 3 years ago-ish. It is a good idea for both you, and a website owner - win win really ;P

i think that shoutbox is another way what your visitors really think about your blog/website simply by living short messages on it!

I think adding a shoutbox on your blog would make it more interactive since you get to know some of the comments of your visitors.

It would be great! Other sites already have that by the way.

I have visited a lot of forums and only a few blogs with shoutbox, I do enjoy interacting with other visitors or members through it sometimes, its like a place to have a little break for a while, something like the general posts thread, but, shoutboxes doesn't really show messages the way that threads and replies are shown in forums...

I used to think Shoutboxes were cool but they are kinda dated now. Everyone seems to have moved onto 'walls.' If somebody wants something similar to a shoutbox but a lot cleaner Google Friend Connect has a 'wall" as one of the social gadgets.

I have a shoutbox on my forum, and members seem to like it. It gets used a lot, but not as much as the chat room.

They can be good for any site, althought they do attract the odd spammer !

Woc

In shout box you can read and know the comments of the visitors on your blog. It is also a one way to get traffic for your site since many visitors might want to give you a complement .

it will definitely help your site boost easily.. especially if visitors post interesting subjects..

Shoutboxes are good for users, bad for marketing.
So you can't promote them as good for marketing - promote them as good for user experience. (Key buzzword).

I LOVE TO rant on shoutboxes, I really do, glad in the knowledge that it'll all disappear by later on the same day when others have shouted enough too.

I want a shoutbox on my own server now (some nice noncommercial part of it), actually. I shall make it the only way my friends can talk to me - and access it via wap from my mobile at 1p per access.

Of course I'll write one myself, no need to use yours (in case u were gonna offer)

Originally Posted by kuszeras

Hi,

I would like to know your opinions about the shoutbox and the whole idea. Is it good, what could be done better. I won't hide that I am asking this question because I run site with free shoutboxes and I would like to hear some feedback about them.

So are you using them, are you glad with them, what can be done better?

Cheers!

Hmm.. Shoutbox is good way to communicate to your fellow visitors without spamming your blog. (anyway, even they SPAM it, is useless since its in an IFRAME, and spiderbot cant read IFRAME)

spiders CAN read iframes

Originally Posted by chrishirst

spiders CAN read iframes

This is true, and spiders will pickup the chatter inside the shoutbox also.

I'd like to add a shoutbox to my blog. Does anyone have one? And is it a plugin type for say wordpress? Please respond! Thanks, Dave

You can check http://www.free-shoutbox.net . Good luck!

Originally Posted by Arleigh

I think adding a shoutbox on your blog would make it more interactive since you get to know some of the comments of your visitors.

Agreed on this point. In addition to that, just like in social networking sites, Shoutbox catches reader's attention. The blogger can easily says his/her perception.