The Value Of Forums

[honestway]

I was just reading through some of the posts in here and it dawned on me. Forums are not just great places to learn stuff and meet new people. They're the essential building blocks of anyone's online business.

Why do I say that? Well, while not all of the members here are involved in their own online business, most of us are busy trying to make a living online from a great variety of different sources. It's important, therefore to network amongst others in similar situations to ourselves because the internet is a vast repository of knowledge and information and it is changing all the time.

If we don't keep up to date with what's happening online, we could be happily making a nice income one day and the next the rug could be unceremoniuosly yanked out from under our cosy warm feet!

And the best way to keep up to date with what's happening online is by vistsing good forums that are related to working online and have a good, solid, experienced and knowledgable membership.

If we all keep in touch with one another and keep up with the current online news, which we will find in these forums, then we will all be aware of any changes that are either happening or are in the pipeline that could affect our online business or income source.

It is also in these forums that we get to hear about the latest releases of software, the latest products, strategies or packages as they hit the cyber-shops and also the all-important feedback that the experienced members will give. That way the newer members will stand a good chance of avoiding any new scams that infiltrate the system frequently as well as be aware of any really good products or service that are recommended by trusted and well known members.

It's a win-win situation to be involved in online marketing or work-at-home related forums and I for one am glad I'm a member!

Terry ;)

[Audrey]

Terry,

Do you write articles? Your post is 330 words. Most articles are between 300 and 700 words.

With a few tweaks, you could turn the above post into an article and have it read by thousands.

It's a great tip for those who own their businesses and wish to network online.

[honestway]

Thanks Audrey. Actually, I do write quite a lot but this post just started out as a ramble (as most articles often do). I thought about it afterwards and it seems like a good topic to add to my site's article base - as you said with a few tweaks and I'll probably up the word count to over 500.

I also submit articles to EzineArticles.com as they are probably the widest read of their kind as welll as writing for Constant Content. I'd write for Associated Content too except they don't pay anyone outside the US, which is a shame.

Anyway, thanks for your reply - I'll be coming up with more articles when I get time! :)

[Audrey]

I also submit my articles to ezinearticles.com

http://www.maranan.us/archives/list-of-article-directories/ this is one of the largest lists I've ever seen of places to submit your articles.

[MamaSoul]

I was just reading through some of the posts in here and it dawned on me. Forums are not just great places to learn stuff and meet new people. They're the essential building blocks of anyone's online business.


Hi Terry,
I agree! I have been recently studying the way business is conducted in Eastern countries and it is quite different than business in the West. Relationship based business is preferred in most Asian countries and this springs mainly from Confucianism. People in business are expected to "do the honorable thing" of getting to know each other on a more personal basis before entering into a business dealing whereas in the West we tend to draw a distinct line between personal and business..."business is business".

In my experience, I tend to do more business with people I have grown to trust and know on a deeper level, and I want my customers to feel the same about me...that I care, that I'm human and that I don't just like them because they give me money. Business in the 21st century is very much about transparency...and as you mentioned Terry..."Win-win", which is one of my biggest soap boxes in business. If a situation is asymmetrical...i.e. one sided, how does that help either party? The person on the winning side loses a repeat customer, and the person on the non-winning side loses trust, and possibly a whole lot more.

The more we foster win-win business with a personal touch, the more the whole of business in general is lifted to a higher level of integrity and good ethos.

Peace always...all ways,
Shauna
http://www.soulfoodcafe.co.nz

[Lori]

In my experience, I tend to do more business with people I have grown to trust and know on a deeper level, and I want my customers to feel the same about me...that I care, that I'm human and that I don't just like them because they give me money. Business in the 21st century is very much about transparency...

Really well put Shauna,

And it's true when people participate in forums in their niche, truly participate, not just leaving ads... they can gain quite a bit of trust and a perceived expertise from forum users as well as outsiders, i.e. search engine users.

[honestway]

Shauna, that's so true!

Of course, the other great thing about forums is that there is no pressure to visit a certain number of times or even how many posts to make while you're there. Quality over quantity is the way to go as you said, Lori not just posting ads but really participating.

It always takes time to get used to each new forum you sign up with and also you shouldn't go at a new one like a bull in a china shop or you might just end up irritating the long standing members. Take it slow, post a few replies in other peoples posts and maybe ask some reasonable questions. Then when your confidence grows, start your own threads and people will reply if they are interested.

One forum that is notorious for taking a dim view on anyone charging in is Warriors. It takes a while to be accepted by the older more experienced members and they totally hate you trying any promotion of your wares until you have at least gained a bit of respect there. Even then, the mods will cast a dubious eye on any kind of product promoting unless it has their express approval!

But then that is a special place that you'll find yourself rubbing shoulders with the top marketers in the world. That equals the best in knowledge, experience and credibility you'll find period. It is sooo well worth slotting yourself in slowly and gaining a decent reputation there!

But that the end of the day, most forums are made up of mere mortals like ourselves who just enjoying communicating with our fellow work-at-home people and helping each other out when we can. Just as it should be.

Forums rule! :shades:

[photomom04]

Shauna, that's so true!

Of course, the other great thing about forums is that there is no pressure to visit a certain number of times or even how many posts to make while you're there. Quality over quantity is the way to go as you said, Lori not just posting ads but really participating.

It always takes time to get used to each new forum you sign up with and also you shouldn't go at a new one like a bull in a china shop or you might just end up irritating the long standing members. Forums rule! :shades:

This is SO true! My newest pet peeve are the hit and run or one-liners as I have been calling them. They sign up at every forum that might possibly have someone interested in whatever they are selling and they never even read the whole thread. Their answers are always one line and it isn't helpful or it just echoes what everyone else has already said. I have been trying so hard to bite my tongue and not be sarcastic to these people..

Lesson learned: If you are going to join a forum do it because you are truly interested in particpating and helping. Not just to try and increase your search engine rankings. :argue:

[honestway]

That bugs me too! I know sometimes we don't always have time to write a decent, meaningful post, but just to put a "I know what you mean" kind of reply is really irritating. :?

It's like they really don't have a clue what the thread is about, but they need to increase their number of posts, or want to broadcast their sig so they just stick in any old thing and then disappear off to the next forum to do the same there.

Oh well, it takes all sorts, I guess!

BTW, I forgot to say thanks to Audrey for the link to maranan.us - thanks!!!
That site has a truly massive list of article directories. I can see me spending a whole lot of time posting articles to that lot!!! I know there are some software packages that do it for you, but I like the personal touch and it's a good way to tell the good ones from the bad.

[Audrey]

Honestway,

You're welcome. My own article marketing strategy is pretty simple. I upload every new article to ezinearticles.com. My next two stops are ladyspens.com and buzzle.com. After that I submit as I have time. The list I gave you is HUGE!!! Submit a few articles to a directory, then go back in 14 days, and once more 14 days after that. Are your articles being read? If not, maybe don't invest your time in that directory?

I keep an Excel spreadsheet that tells me which article I've submitted to which directory. Directories change. So if one directory didn't work for you in 2006, try it again in 2007, see if it works this time.