12 Steps to using a Forum or Message Board properly.

So you’ve been looking around the internet and discovered forums. You want to join in but it’s kind of intimidating. Maybe you’ve started an online business or offline business and you want to promote it. You’ve heard that forums are a great way to promote your business but you want to make sure you’re doing it right.

There really is such a thing as “forum etiquette”. If you don’t know what to do, you could easily find yourself banned from one of the best places online. So how do you make sure you are behaving yourself?

Step one: Understand how forums work. Typically they are set up with various “boards”. Each “board” has a purpose. Look around and familiarize yourself with how the forum is structured.

Step two: Take time to read and get a feel for how the forum is ran. If you are hoping to use a signature line, look at other posters and see if they have signature lines and if those signatures are promotional or just for fun. Get an idea of who is who on the board. Most boards have moderators. You don’t want to annoy these people.

Step three: Read the rules. Some forums have rules that encompass the entire forum and others have rules for each board.

Step four: Now that you understand the forum, join and get a membership if you haven’t already.

Step five: Introduce yourself. While most forums are happy to have you there, it’s nice to know who we are talking to, why you are there and what you hope to accomplish. This makes it easier for the existing forum members to help you.

Step six: Start posting. This is the most important rule regardless of who you are or why you are there. You can’t get answers if you don’t ask questions. Your business won’t be noticed if you don’t post and make yourself an authority.

Step seven: Follow up. If you are there solely for self promotion, you will quickly find yourself banned or your posts just deleted. If you are there to promote your business, check back each day to answer questions from other members. There is little that is more annoying than someone asking a question or making a statement and then not following up. Check back daily.

Step eight: Try not to send private messages to the owner/admin. They created the forum so you would have a place to ask your questions and get answers. While they really want to help, they are very busy making sure everything works the way you expect it to work.

Step Nine: Do NOT spam the other members. It does not matter if someone asks for a business opportunity. If the rules state you are not allowed to promote your business do not do it. This includes saying things like “see my signature” or sending them a private message. There are boards that allow advertising. Use them.

Step Ten: DO NOT become a hit and run poster. This is the surest way to build a bad reputation and get banned. If you want to promote yourself, take the time to become an active member and participate in the forum. The forum was not built so you would have a place to advertise.

Step Eleven: DO NOT become a “one-liner”. These are people who pretend to participate by answering numerous questions. All with the same phrase or a few different one line phrases.

Step Twelve: Have fun. Get to know the rest of the community and help the forum owner by passing along to others what a great forum it is. If you are enjoying it and learning from it why not share.

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