Instant Messaging Solutions for Beginners

Use instant messaging over the Internet to make your business communications easier
By Kate Esposito You may think all IM software should be completely banned from your office since it encourages employees to chat with friends instead of doing their work. But , if you're unfamiliar with IM systems, you may not be aware of how your company can benefit from allowing employees to communicate with each other using IM.
 

Corporate instant messaging can keep employees at their desks and working since they won't actively seek out others to get their questions answered. It can also allow them to quickly, and inexpensively, share ideas with coworkers at different office locations as well as with independent contractors and clients. Three ways to make instant messaging effective for your business are:

1. Choosing the proper instant message solutions for your company;

2. Securing your system so it cannot be accessed by unauthorized users;

3. Implementing a usage policy to deter employees from abusing the instant messaging system.

Research the instant messaging for business options available

There are, of course, the free IM solutions, such as AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, which can provide instant messaging solutions for beginners. However, if you plan to implement instant messaging for the long term, it's best to go with a private service.
Try: B-Labs, which developed and sells the Bopup Communication Server, provides a great overview of what IM software can do and how it should be used. Then go to Vital Sound Laboratory's site. It will give you an idea of the software packages you can purchase in electronics stores and even has a free trial of LAN Messenger to give you a better feel of how they work.

Find out about security software to keep your Internet message service private

Once you have your enterprise instant messaging installed, you need to make sure your IMs are safe from prying eyes. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a security package that will work with your instant messaging program.
Try: Read the IDG Network's article on the security risks of instant messenger for a good overview as to why you need this system in place. Then check out Symantec's description of IM Manager, a popular instant messaging security software product. It will give you an idea of the standard features you will want to have.

Write a corporate policy to govern instant messaging software use

Unfortunately, even if employees can only chat with each other, there is opportunity for abuse of your Internet message service. A policy that requires it to be for business talk only can help your employees stay on task instead of chatting about last night's football game.
Try: Read Microsoft Small Business Center's guidelines for instant message use and adopt some of them into your policy. Then check out Information Today's article on the same subject to help you further streamline the rules. Have all employees sign a written list of rules before you install the instant messenger software.