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Instant Messaging (IM)

Instant messaging, or IM, has been around since the early days of America Online (AOL). It's made some advances over the years and is now a cornerstone of all social networking mediums.

What It Is

Instant Messaging is a text-based way to chat in real time via your computer. You type and send a quick message to someone. They receive and can reply to it immediately.

Why Use It

IM is a quick, easy, and convenient way to talk to someone when you're not able to pick up the phone or speak face-to-face.

• Collaborate – IM is great for getting quick input. Let's say you’re buying a shirt online but can’t decide which color to get. IM your friend and ask her. You can even IM her with the link to the Web site you’re on so she can see the shirt herself.
• Send a picture or file – you can IM pictures or documents to people.
• Not sure about the new paint color in the living room? Take a picture. IM it to your friend and get feedback instantly.
• When you IM a file, you're able to see how large it is, how long it will take to download, and the percentage of the download that has been completed.
• Multi-task – many people use IM tools at work to ask coworkers quick questions or discuss issues while on conference calls. You can open up a group chat so that multiple people can weigh in on a topic.
• Save Money – IM is free and there are no long distance charges. An IM to your next door neighbor costs the same as an IM to your niece in England.

How It Works

• Pick an IM tool – most e-mail carriers also have an IM tool. Google (Gmail), Yahoo, AOL, and MSN (hotmail) all have IM options.
• If your e-mail carrier doesn't have an IM tool, companies like AOL and Google have IM tools that you can use regardless of whether you have an e-mail account with them.
• Most social networking sites also have IM tools that come built-in to the site.
• Sign Up – most of these tools are free. They require a valid e-mail address, a password, and a screen name (your IM username) to sign up.
• Your screen name can be anything, from your name, to your initials, to your favorite TV character.
• The only requirement is that someone doesn't already have it.
• Add Friends – just like on social networking sites, you can search for your friends by name or e-mail address.
• Many of these tools also allow you to import - or copy over - contacts from your e-mail account.
• The tool would then automatically add the contacts who have IM accounts to your buddy list.
• Set Up Your Buddy List – all IM tools have something called a friend, contact, or buddy list. This list shows the screen names of all of your friends or contacts. It also shows their statuses – active/available, busy, away, or offline.
• Many of these tools also allow you to write an "away message," which tells people what you're doing, how long you'll be gone, or how to get in touch with you while you're away.
• As always, you should be careful about broadcasting detailed information. Don't post an away message saying how long you're on vacation and where your house key is hidden.
• Normally, if someone has an away message up, you'll see an icon (usually of a note pad) next to his name. If you hover over that icon, his message will display.
• Many of these tools also allow you to import a picture that will appear next to your screen name when you IM someone. This picture helps people to identify you. It also adds a more personal touch to the experience.
• Chat – once you have friends loaded onto your buddy list, you can begin to IM. All you do is double click on a screen name (or you can highlight the name and press enter), type your message, and press enter (or click on the "send" button at the bottom of the IM window).
• If you have the sound on on your computer, a little noise will sound when you send the message. A different noise will sound if/when your buddy replies.
• Most of the IM tools have what are called "emoticons." These are little icons that suggest an emotion like happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, or shocked.
• "Emoticons" are often noted by a button with a yellow smiley face. If you click on that button, a pop-up menu should appear that will show you all of your "emoticon" options.

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