# Private Message Button in Posts or "Post Menu" area
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374
**Category:** Feature
**Created:** [January 23, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374 "2015-01-23T22:20:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/1 "2015-01-23T22:20:59Z")
In some communities / certain categories / topics it is required for people to “Private Message” the author to continue the conversation.
This is possibly extension / plugin territory - I place it in the feature category for now in-case this matches common other community requests.
###The Idea
Where some code used in posts perhaps like:
```
[pm]
```
or
```
[pm @DeanMarkTaylor]
```
Could be included where this would generate embedded buttons as replacements:
or
###Possible uses
For example in the case of selling items a Classifies section where items are listed for sale.
Where the topic author lists an item as being available “Private Message” makes sense because:
- the public generally don’t need to know you are interested in the item
- the discussion of the final sale price is dependant on details of buyer location
- a part exchange where an offer is made
- etc.
###Possible Alternative
An additional icon in the Post Menu area to PM the author, although I don’t really like this as it might push to many messages into private instead of being public.
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/2 "2015-01-23T22:32:22Z")
Something more than the existing Notify Member option available every post ?
---
### Author:  [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/3 "2015-01-23T22:34:40Z")
> [@Mittineague](#):
>
> omething more than the existing Notify Member option available every post ?
Yes, this flagging process is not obvious enough for some posts where the next immediate action required by the user is to “Private Message”. Akin to a “buy now” button - you wouldn’t expect to have to “Flag” a post to buy - nor would you to private message.
---
### Author:  [@Mittineague](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Mittineague)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/4 "2015-01-23T22:39:12Z")
There’s also the “click avatar” see User Card with prominent Private Message button.
But I can see where the needing a click might be a wall for those that don’t know.
---
### Author:  [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/5 "2015-01-23T22:42:56Z")
> [@Mittineague](#):
>
> But I can see where the needing a click might be a wall for those that don’t know.
Yes - it is a wall - and education path is painful.
We have whole groups of posts where users are saying “click on my picture”, “what picture”…
… the target user group are not technical or experienced and really can’t follow these steps and need it to be simple.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [January 24, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/6 "2015-01-24T00:13:23Z")
Probably easier to come up with an URL they could use and you could edit into the post, e.g.
[http://example.com/users/deanmarktaylor/sendpm](http://example.com/users/deanmarktaylor/sendpm)
This URL would trigger the composer, I guess, though it would also navigate to that user’s profile..
---
### Author:  [@techAPJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/techAPJ)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/7 "2015-11-24T14:54:14Z")
> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> Probably easier to come up with an URL they could use and you could edit into the post
Done:
> [@Creating pre-filled personal message links](https://meta.discourse.org/t/compose-a-new-pre-filled-private-message-via-url/35984):
>
> bookmark This guide describes how to create a link to start a new personal message with pre-filled information, including best practices. person_raising_hand Required user level: All users Discourse allows you to compose a new personal message with pre-filled information via URL parameters. This can save time and ensure consistency for common messages. Structure of the URL To create a new pre-filled message, format your URL like this: https://discourse.example.com/new-message?username…
---
### Author:  [@chapoi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/chapoi)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/private-message-button-in-posts-or-post-menu-area/24374/8 "2025-12-04T11:33:30Z")