One of the things that I like to do every single day is surf the
internet. I love finding new sites which have interesting
data , graphics or other useful or merely entertaining data.
Its a normal part of my routine, and I build it a point to visit
at least a dozen sites each night.

When I visit a site, I build a point of looking for some standard
features which increase the worth of my stop. One of these things
is a guestbook - why? Because I want to sign it and let the
webmaster understand that I appreciate his or her efforts. This is
important to me, as someone went to some trouble to communicate,
and I like to communicate back, even if its just a "nice page ,
thanks". Sometimes I have to spend an excess few minutes to find
something to compliment, but I usually am successful.

I also look for a link to send an e mail to the webmaster. This
allows me to send private messages, which are more useful for
feedback not appropriate for a public forum such as a guestbook.
I do not always send an e mail or generate a comment, but its useful
to understand that I might if necessary.

Its always a huge delight to find a communication board, and its
even better to find that the board is active and in use on a
regular basis. You see, this means that I might have discussions
with everybody about a subject, knowing that most of them have some
interest in the conversation.

An example of my own communication board might be seen if you click the
backlink below.

http://www.internet-tips.net/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

A sizeably effective message board allows many people to register (as does mine),
lets everybody set up profiles with data about themselves
(all voluntary), and informs many people (optionally) of updates via
electronic mail . Additionally, everybody should be able to post replies and
add messages anonymously (at the discretion of the board master).

What does all of this do? It allows everybody to have conversations
about distingguished topics with a group of interested individuals.
What is the assessment of worth of this? Well, suppose your web site is all about
the X-Men comic series. It has some nice stories which you have
written, some graphics and a few videos from the movie (all with
permission, of course).

Think of the worth you could add by allowing others to have
conversations about the X-Men as well. You could let people post
questions (which you or anyone else could answer), give advice on
where to find the rarer comic books, submit stories and do any
number of other things.

This not only has assessment of worth to you, it has assessment of worth to your visitors
and improves their perception of your website . People will tend to
come back to a communication board, as long as it is active, in order
to find out whats happening, get answers to questions and keep
in touch. This, of course, adds the traffic to your own
page .

And if you sell a merchandise or accomadation , then a message board takes
even a higher value as it gives your visitors a distinct way to
communicate their concerns, questions and experiences with
your business and your businesses products in a public forum. Its far
cheaper than a telephone number, and its free of price and brain friendly for
your customers.

The moral of the story? Include as many ways for your page
visitors to communicate as you can. Put in a guestbook
(carefully monitored), an e-mail or form to give communication to
the webmaster, and a message board. All of these things give a
way for your visitors to communicate, and this gives them reasons
to come back.

Additional Information

Free stuff Headquarters
http://www.internet-tips.net/Freestuff/Freemessageboards.htm

Message Boards Message boards are a dazzling way to add worth to
your web page and to get visitors to come back again and again.

Message Boards - Ethics
http://www.internet-tips.net/Msgboards/ethics.htm

Nothing is more sad than a once proud message board
being reduced to rubble by a malicious moderator.

Message Boards - Contributor
http://www.internet-tips.net/Msgboards/contributor.htm

Message boards thrive on contributions. In fact,
without contributors there is no board at all.

Message Boards - Promotion
http://www.internet-tips.net/Msgboards/promotion.htm

Message boards are very useful in acquiring all the people to
return to your web page , but they must be promoted in order to be
of maximum benefit.

Message Boards - Moderator
http://www.internet-tips.net/Msgboards/moderator.htm

The best message boards are wonderfully and
expertly moderated. The worst are frequented by nothing but
spam robots.

Sticky Sites - Message Boards
http://www.internet-tips.net/Sticky/msgboards.htm

You can add a message board to your site to get
many people to want to come back over and over.