Posts or chat? To help you better understand when you can use those means of communication, we have summarized a few differences and use cases here.
This way, you can independently assess which function can be used in your church and when.
What is the difference between posts and chat? #
- Communication with posts does not take place in real time, but in the chat it does.
- You can deal with one topic per post and discuss it in the comments. In the chat, it’s much more difficult to have a topic-based conversation without digressing.
- The creator of a post doesn’t need to be able to see the readers. In the chat, every chat participant can see all other participants.
- Posts can be used for one-way communication (e.g. announcements). The chat is more about two-way communication on the same level that requires responses.
- Posts are more long-lasting (more static). In the chat, older messages are quickly lost and it is better suited for a faster type of communication.
- Posts can initiate a topic, which can then be followed up on in other channels (e.g. search-bid …).
- Posts can be shared publicly whereas a ChurchTools user account is required to participate in the chat.
When should I use posts and when should I use the chat? #
- Posts are more suitable for many recipients (e.g. for announcements/information). They can replace e.g. newsletters or read-only chats and add the function that recipients can write comments.
- For a small number of recipients who should receive the information quickly or who are asked a question that requires a quick answer, the chat is more suitable as the recipients are notified of the new message and can reply directly.
- For public information, which should also reach people who are not logged in to your ChurchTools installation, posts are more suitable, as you can make them publicly visible and, for example, embed them on your website.
