Why I won’t use Google Talk Chatback widget!
Google recently added Chatback widget in the list of ever increasing features of Google Talk (unfortunately only web based ones). Chatback widget is much like meebo me or AOL’s Wimzi widget (our coverage) which allows you to chat with visitors on your website.
Unfortunately like AOL Wimzi, Meebome I’ve decided that I won’t be using Google Talk Chatback widget on ReviewSaurus or any of my website. Here are the reasons for that :
1. Chat is good for socializing only : Chat is a very good way of communication and for socializing however, they are one of the biggest time wasters too. That’s one of the reason that many corporate’s don’t allow chatting however, they keep it open amongst company employees only.
2. I don’t want to miss the quality content : Google talk will allow me to chat to my website’s visitors however, the reason why readers would like to chat with me will be most likely because they want some help in any of the software or operating system issues or may be need some help in the wordpress theme or something like that. I would rather answer them in the forum or blog comments.
Not only that will generate the content for the blog, but the comments by others will be helpful for others too, but because Google talk is private between a particular visitor and me, that chat won’t be helpful to others. This post of mine is a classic example of how comments have helped many other visitors and other visitors have contributed in this small knowledge bank.
3. It’s not a community thing : It will certainly help in building relationship with the visitors, however it won’t help in building the community. Visitors will only know you but they won’t know other visitors. Building a community around a blog is not only important for a webmaster, it’s beneficial for all the community members too.
Will you be applying Google Talk Chatback or AOL’s Wimzi or Meebo me on your blog ?
Other Important Articles
- AOL launches Wimzi : Talk to your visitors!
- GMail Chat supports invisible status mode! Only if Google updates Google Talk itself!
- Google Talk is feeling lonely at Google Headquarters – still no update
- Install Top Commentator Widget!
- Review of Google Talk – Messenger which needs lots of improvement!
Rakshitk
February 27th, 2008 at 9:48 pm #
That’s a very impressive review. I like that.
:-)
Kanak B handari
February 27th, 2008 at 10:00 pm #
hey dont put chat on your main page, put it on your contact page. Normally people who want to contact you , would like to chat with you to get their problem or suggestions sorted out soon, and may be this is the reason I would like to use this stuff soon..but need to check that it doesnt spam :D
Bush Mackel
February 28th, 2008 at 7:35 am #
I also don’t think that this will find it’s way into my site. For one, I don’t have room for it, and for two, I don’t know that I’m on my own site that much anymore where it’d do any good. It’d be much better if I just gave out an IM name or something! I am thinking about putting twitter on my site though. (#):)
BTW… things are looking different around here or I just imagining things?
ReviewSaurus
February 28th, 2008 at 8:20 am #
@ Rakshit : Thanks for the appreciation.
@ Kanak : I guess you are right, but still my first point remains. It’ll always be good if we put a forum or something like that, else frequent chat windows will sound bugging only..and nothing else and just imagine people like Johnchow, Amit agarwal, Dareen…will they use it ? The answer is NO, coz frequent chat windows will only kill their productivity.
@ Bush : putting twitter is a nice thought. And I’m glad that you agree to my thoughts too.
Well, things have changed quite a bit over here. Only if you drop in over here regularly :]
egyptlaptop
April 25th, 2009 at 8:33 pm #
thank's for this pointing out . but the google chatback " widget " is not working now !
and give the famouse error page " 404 "
any one can help us ?