How to Command Attention on Discord

Discord is a popular chat and communication platform, especially among gamers. With busy servers and active conversations, it can sometimes be difficult to grab people’s attention when you want to say something. However, Discord offers several features to help your messages stand out.

Use @ Mentions

One of the easiest ways to notify someone that you want their attention is by using @ mentions. Simply type @ followed by the person’s username and it will send them a notification along with highlighting your message for them. This is useful for getting the attention of specific people without interrupting the whole conversation.

For example:

@John check out this meme I just posted!

Utilize Formatting for Emphasis

Discord allows you to format your text in different ways to make key points stand out. Here are some formatting options and how to use them:

• Bold – Add two asterisks before and after a word or phrase to bold it. This is great for emphasizing keywords. Ex: This is important
• Italics – Add one asterisk before and after a word or phrase to italicize it. Use this to stress a particular point. Ex: Don’t forget to vote!
• Underline – Add two underscores before and after a word or phrase to underline it. Underlines can draw attention to critical information. Ex: The event starts at 7PM
• Strikethrough – Add two tildes before and after a word or phrase to strikethrough it. This can be used to indicate information that is no longer relevant. Ex: Last day to register is May 5th

Use Code Blocks for Long Messages

Discord’s text boxes don’t allow you to write very long messages. If you have a big announcement or lengthy instructions to share, use code blocks to remove the character limit.

To create a code block, place three backticks “` at the beginning and end of your message. The backtick key is usually located next to the 1 key on your keyboard. Anything inside will ignore the character limit and allow you to write as much as you want!

React to Messages for Visibility

Discord has a reactions feature that allows you to react to any message with a custom emoji or standard emoji. Reacting to your own messages with unique emojis can help them stand out and catch people’s eyes in busy chat rooms.

Tag Roles to Notify Groups

If you want your message to reach entire groups within your server, you can tag roles to notify all members with that role. Simply use @ followed by the role name and anyone with that role will get a notification. This is useful when coordinating events, polls, or announcements.

For example:

@Moderators please check the #guidelines channel for updated rules.

Use Threads for Extended Discussions

If a conversation starts getting off-topic in a chat channel, use threads to keep it going without disrupting the main discussion. Threads move conversations into a separate space while still linking back to the original message.

To create a thread, hover over any message and click the thread icon. This groups follow-up messages together for improved readability.

Create Private Channels

If you want to have a focused discussion with a select group of people, create a private text or voice channel and add specific members. This gives you a dedicated space to talk without constant interruptions.

Private channels help minimize off-topic conversations and keep chats relevant to the channel topic. You can make channels for specific teams, committees, topics, or friends groups.

Use Bots for Announcements

There are Discord bots available that allow you to set up announcement channels that notify all server members when you post messages there. This eliminates people missing important updates due to being offline.

Some examples of announcement bot options include AnnounceBot, Enhanced-Discord-Bot, and Discord Dungeon Master Bot. These provide user-friendly ways to send server-wide announcements.

Pin Important Messages

If there is a message you want new members to see right away or existing members to refer back to, you can pin it to the channel. Pinned messages are shown at the top of the chat so they are always visible.

This is perfect for posting rules, event details, contacts lists, or other information you want people to notice when they open the channel. Use pinning judiciously for maximum effectiveness.

Add Visual Media

Including visual elements like images, GIFs, or videos will instantly capture more attention than plain text. Embed media that is related to your message or reference external links to illustrate your point.

Visuals tend to stick in people’s minds more than written words alone. Adding them to your messages can improve engagement and recall. Just be sure they are SFW and relevant!

Use @here to Notify Online Users

If you want to alert only users who are currently online in your server, you can use the @here tag. This sends notifications to online members without disturbing offline members with push notifications.

The @here tag is great for time-sensitive announcements directed at those currently browsing channels. Use it for spur-of-the-moment activities like impromptu gaming sessions.

Install Server Widget for Exposure

You can install the Discord Server Widget to embed a preview of your server on external sites. This allows people visiting other websites to see a snippet of your server chat in real time.

The widget allures visitors to click through and join your server. Use it on landing pages, blogs, streaming channels, or anywhere that you can embed HTML code.

Give Roles Colorful Names

Assign roles creative names related to your server topic or with emojis to make them stand out. For example, a music server could have roles like 🎹 Piano Players, 🥁 Drummers or 🎤 Lead Singers.

When you tag colorful roles in chat, they will catch people’s eyes better than dull names like Member #1 or Test Role. Get creative to add flair!

Use Nicknames for Identification

Suggest server members use customized nicknames to identify themselves instead of vague names like Gamer_X_91 or ilikecats. Descriptive names like Mary – Marketing Team or Walter – Event Planner tell other users who you are at a glance.

When members use unambiguous nicknames, it builds community recognition making it easier to command attention properly directed at the right recipient.

Create Public Servers for Wider Reach

If you want to spread announcements beyond a single private server, create a public server dedicated to broadcasting to a wider audience. Use targeted invites and server discovery listings to reach more potential members.

Public servers allow your messages to achieve greater exposure outside of limited private circles. The trade-off is these servers attract more random users which can be harder to develop into communities. But for pure reach, they are advantageous.

Conclusion

• Use @ mentions, formatting, reactions, threads and media to make your messages stand out
• Install bots and widgets to assist with announcements and exposure
• Create private channels, tag roles and pin messages to target key groups
• Suggest descriptive nicknames and public servers to identify members and extend reach

With all these techniques, you can cut through the noise to effectively command attention for your posts on Discord. Test different methods and find an optimal strategy that works for your server community.