Front End PM puts private conversations on a WordPress page, where visitors can message one another without going to the Dashboard. The available formats include threaded or individual messages; PRO capabilities add multiple recipients, group messages, admin-only messaging, and role-to-role messaging.

Messages, email, and announcements

Messages can include embedded content from YouTube, Photobucket, Flickr, and WordPress TV. PRO capabilities also list email piping, read receipts, email templates, and an email queue.

Administrators can publish public announcements for all users or selected roles. They can pick whether an announcement sends email and configure the address or addresses in its “to” field. Users can choose whether to receive messages, email alerts for messages, and email alerts for announcements. Notification sound and desktop notification options are available.

Access and directory options

Administrators can set message-box limits by role, choose how many messages appear per page, and set the number of users shown per page in the front-end directory. They can control whether the directory is visible to all users, hide visitor autosuggestions, block users from sending private messages, or set a delay between messages.

Administrators can view other users’ private messages and prevent users from starting new conversations while still allowing replies to existing ones. Users can block other users. Three types of sidebar widget are available.

Set up the messaging page

Upload and activate Front End PM in WordPress. Create a page, add the [front-end-pm] shortcode in the editor’s HTML tab, publish the page, then select it as the Front End PM Page in the plugin settings.

Before updating, test on a staging site and make a full backup so the website can be recovered if needed. The extension is translation-ready, and translation work can be done through WordPress translation tools. Paid support is also referenced.