for me, anyway! 2 posts in less than a month!

First a follow-up on the “obnoxious” forum poster discussed below. I posted in Ken’s forum that I had made a blog entry. He made his way over here, and after reading the post I made on Netiquette in forums, apologized for his behavior. So, a direct confrontation was avoided - and maybe he learned something. I hope so- he’s still getting some flack, though..

I’m going to be doing some fall housekeeping soon. I’ve got a ton of new files to add, more links, and some new projects. I’m thinking about changing my site logo - take a look and tell me which one you like… logos…

I’m also going to be raising my prices somewhat on my design services. I hate to do it, but they’ve been at this level for over 2 years now, and my workload is getting to the point where I can’t keep up. Don’t worry, my prices still won’t break your budget! This change will go into effect when I can get new pages written for it. (Heck, that might be another 2 years before I get that done! LOL!)

OK - I’ve got to get back to work, but I’m not done commenting. Looks like I may break another record here soon…

Neil

As you all well know, everything that happens to me is fodder for an article or a blog posting. This week something happened that makes a good teaching tool.

Ken Silver’s Home Publishing forum is one of my favorite places to visit. I’ve been active on his board for several years, and have thoroughly enjoyed the interaction and the people who frequent this particular forum. I also get a good number of clients from my postings on Ken’s board. This week we had a new, very obnoxious “visitor” there, and his appearance prompted this review of “forum netiquette.”

Many ebooks on internet marketing claim that forums are a good place to get new customers and clients. Unfortunately, a good percentage of these books don’t tell you the *proper* way to go about using forums to help promote yourself. So, what’s the proper way??

(1) Before anything else, do your homework! LURK for a while. Read the posts, get to know the frequent posters, get a feel for the personality of the forum. Check out the flow of the conversations, and the “culture” of the board. (The guy mentioned above posted a spam ad every time the word “ebook” was mentioned in a post. I counted 6 postings by him - all advertising a particular method of creating ebooks and all posted on his first visit to the board!)

(2) Get involved. A good way to get involved (or to make your first post) is to ask some questions. BUT, here again, you need to be familiar with the forum - don’t ask the same questions that have already been asked a hundred times before. Chances are, no one wants to take the time to repeat answers that have already been repeated ad infinitum. Read the archives. Jumping right into ongoing discussions without being familiar with the group is never a good idea.

(3) Establish credibility and familarity. Once you have “introduced yourself” to the group, so to speak, contribute to ongoing discussions. This does not mean that you jump in and advertise your product or services in every thread. It means that you add *value* to the discussions - give your thoughts and opinions, be a devil’s advocate, or help people whenever possible.

(4) Create a “signature” to use on your posts. Blatant advertising is banned from most forums - as well it should be! So, you don’t “advertise” - you “promote” through your signature. For those of you who don’t know what a signature is, here’s an example of the signature I use on Ken’s board.

Neil Tarvin

ebook designer

=====================

FREE - eBook Librarian

http://www.ebookgraphics.com/wordpress/ebooklibrarian.html

Keep track of all the ebooks you download

=====================

Word eBook Templates

http://www.ebookgraphics.com/wordpress/mytemplates1.html

Fast, easy ebook creation

=====================

Different forums have different rules about signatures - on the Warrior forum, for example, you’re allowed 3 lines for your signature. On Tony Blake’s board, you can have images and a link as well as a signature inside your post. Know what is acceptable on each board, and don’t flaunt the rules! In this same vein, if a forum requires an email address - add one! If you don’t, it makes you look less than honorable and your motives questionable! (This fellow did not list an email address, even though Ken’s board requires one. Think there was a reason he didn’t list one?? Like maybe the site he was advertising was actually *his* site, even though he always referred to it “the guys at …” ??)

(5) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER denigrate forum members or their products and services! This is an extreme insult that will only make you look bad, and your products and services questionable. In this particular instance, I was told that my products and my services were “cheap and unprofessional” because I don’t use his product to create my ebooks and those of my clients. (This from someone who doesn’t know me from Adam!) Well, my clients know better, and Ken kindly deleted those nasty comments from his forum. Then earlier today, this guy said the same thing to another long-time poster on the board! This is not the way to win friends and influence people! (Does he really think that *anyone* is going to visit his site or use his services after that?? Do you think I’m *ever* going to refer anyone to him??)

Forums are made up of people - and while not everyone is going to get along (I’ve had some pretty good arguments with some people on Ken’s board, but they were arguments about techniques or methods, not personal insults), there is a right way and a wrong way to post and make yourself known. Do it the right way!

Neil