Online forums or message boards are online discussion sites where people with similar interests.  The first thing that pops in to my head is creepy chatrooms, but this is definitely not the case.  Forums have many advantages.  They can help answer people’s questions.  For example, if there is a new product that was just launched and before you buy it, you want to chat with users of the product…presenting…an online forum.  You can chat there.

You can register as a member of a forum or use the site anonymously.  There are rules and policies in some forums also that are maintained by the administrators.  I never use forums myself so this is a world that I haven’t even entered into.  From a PR perspective, organizations can set up forums and have employees and customers openly discuss needs and wants.  However, it be can a disadvantage because publics can be speaking negatively and publicly about an organization.

Start googling online forums and you’re bound to find one about a subject that you’re keen on: theology, education, politics, poker, the list goes on and on and on.  Start chatting away.