Dotnetnuke™ For Dummies®

Chapter 7. Getting Interactive with DotNetNuke

In This Chapter

• Find out about the Feedback modules

• Blogging with DNN

• Working with forums

• Sending newsletters

After you have created a Web site by using the modules covered in Chapters 5 and 6, you're ready to tackle some of the more interactive modules that let people get involved with your site, have their say, and hear what others have to say.

The best Web sites have something new and interesting to read or do each time you visit them. An out-of-date Web site is a bit like visiting good old Uncle Bill: Everyone loves his storytelling, but he's told the same story the last ten times you've visited. But unless you're planning to dedicate your days and nights to writing new content, you need to enlist the help of people with knowledge and interest in topics relevant to your site. Who could be a better helper than your site's users? Everyone likes to have their say, so letting users contribute to your site gives them a sense of belonging to the community, as well as stimulating interest and debate. In return, you get free content, find out what's topical, and end up with more site content as a result.

Getting to Know the Feedback Module

The simplest way to find out what people want from your site is by encouraging them to tell you. DNN comes with a feedback system of two modules that receive and share user feedback.

The first module, shown in Figure 7-1, is called the Feedback module and it enables users to send a message to the Administrator. ...