If Your Customer Can’t Tell Your Online Forum Is Anchored To Your Website, That’s Probably A Good Thing.

Image via CrunchBase

While Jive and Lithium are the ones mentioned in this Wall Street Journal piece, Telligent also has a strong story when it comes to the integration of mobile environments and things like online forums and groups.

A good example, and one the WSJ briefly alludes to, is having the capability to use email to push messages back and forth to a customer’s online forums. But that scenario isn’t just a no-brainer for external communities. It’s also big when you’re introducing online applications inside the firewall to a group of new users. By allowing a company’s employees to use their mobile phones, you don’t have to disrupt the way they’re communicating today.

We typically set up groups internally and users can create and receive updates on their mobile devices when new information is available. As users get comfortable with that approach, they’ll often move to more sophisticated subscription options like RSS feeds or personalized widgets.

While I’d rarely be against the development of a full-blown iPhone app in this context, I think the way mobile’s evolving, most access will be browser-based.

Dedicated applications will bring their own merit though, perhaps providing offline access, exclusive content and the "official" brand feel that a richer client app might provide. Either way, the mantra should be flexibility. If your customer can’t tell your online forum is anchored to your website, that’s probably a good thing.

Posted via web from George Dearing dot com