So bless Forrester Research Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., for its recent study, Chat Matters, found in the June issue of The Forrester Report. Chat attracts youth and women in larger numbers than the Internet generally. Providing users the facility to chat and making them comfortable around a topic represents step one. Getting folks to show up and participate is anything but easy. Offering folks advice may be one of the simplest ways to get them talking.
Publishers providing Internet service can use chat to flush out users' common problems.
A local newsgroup may be hosted by an Internet answer person, or you can offer free time for fixing bugs or volunteering to host forums. People line up and sit patiently in the chat room ahead of time to avoid missing counsel from The Boston Globe's handyman columnist. Building ice trenches to avoid water damage was a favorite topic last winter. Regular schedules foster participation. Chats should be at least weekly and held at the same time of day.