Using Twitter to Improve Message Boards

One of the most exciting things about Twitter is its ability to combine with other internet technologies and make those technologies better. Recently, I worked on a project that improved the functionality and ease of use of a message board simply by using Twitter. How can you use Twitter to improve message boards? Here are a few tips:

1. Promote the best threads
On a message board, especially a large message board, sometimes the best threads can get lost in a matter of minutes. Promoting those best threads on Twitter can help them stand out and easier to find.

2. Add a Twitter widget
Adding a Twitter widget to your message board can help your users stay informed without having to leave the message board. Think of a Twitter widget as a live news source.

3. Connect the users
If most of your uses have Twitter accounts, give your users the option of connecting via Twitter. By increasing the family feel of a message board, you can increase the loyalty.

4. Increase traffic
Promoting a message board on Twitter can also have the side effect of increasing traffic to a message board. Twitter is being used as a search engine more and more — even to the point that it rivals Google in some niches.

Twitter and Message Boards are a Strong Comination (Image: Flickr)