How to Use the Messaging Feature in Your Members Area
The Messaging feature allows you, your admins, and your members to communicate directly inside your Kourses site. It’s a powerful tool for building community, offering personal support, and creating stronger member connections that keep people active and engaged.
This article explains how to enable and manage messaging, how members can use it, and how to control message preferences and blocked users.
To manage messaging for your entire site:
Go to your Website Settings.
Scroll down to the section titled Direct Messaging.
Here, you’ll find two toggle options:
Enable Direct Messaging – This turns the messaging feature on or off for your entire site.
If toggled off, messaging will be deactivated entirely.
If toggled on, you’ll activate messaging and unlock the second setting below.
Allow Members to Message Each Other – This controls whether members can communicate with one another.
When on, all members can send messages to each other.
When off, only admins and members can exchange messages (members cannot message other members directly).
Tip: If you want to encourage community growth, keep both options enabled so members can connect freely.
Once messaging is enabled, members will see a Messaging Inbox in the left-hand menu of their Members Area.
Unread – Displays all new messages that haven’t been read yet.
Click on a message to open and read it.
To mark messages as read, use the check icon beside a message, click Mark All as Read or open and read the message.
All – Shows all conversations, including both read and unread messages.
Clicking on a message opens the whole message thread, where you can scroll through your conversation history with that member.
When viewing a message thread, you’ll see a few options if you click on the top right-hand side menu icon:
Close – Closes the message window.
View Profile – Opens the member’s Profile.
Block Member – Prevents the member from sending you further messages.
When you block someone, they won’t be notified. They’ll simply no longer be able to send you messages.
To block a member:
Click Block [Member Name].
Confirm when prompted.
You can unblock them later in your profile settings (see below).
To start a conversation with a member you haven’t messaged before:
Go to the Members Directory.
Find the member you’d like to contact.
Click Message next to their name.
Type your message (e.g. “Hi [Name]!”) and click Send.
The recipient will receive a notification that they’ve got a new message.
Each member can adjust their messaging preferences in their own Profile:
Click on your Profile in the Members Area.
Select the Messaging tab.
Here you’ll find:
Sound Notifications – Toggle this on or off to control whether you hear a ping sound when a new message arrives.
(We recommend keeping this on to avoid missing messages.)
Blocked Members – View and manage members you’ve blocked from messaging you.
To unblock someone, click Unblock, then confirm.
You’ll once again receive messages from that member in your inbox.
6. Benefits of Using Messaging
Messaging inside your members area helps you:
Welcome and personally onboard new members.
Offer quick support without needing external tools or emails.
Encourage peer-to-peer interaction, helping members connect and collaborate.
Strengthen community bonds, which lead to higher engagement and longer retention.
Members who feel connected stay longer, participate more, and contribute to a thriving community.
