Using Message Boards Properly

We all have our own reasons for joining message boards. Maybe its to meet some friends, or find some ideas for your business. Maybe you just needed a place to announce your party. Whatever the reason, are you using them properly?

There are several purposes of a message board:

1. Meet new people/network ~ This does not mean finding people to advertise to. Networking means just meeting people. A person you meet can do several different things:

- Become a customer

- Introduce you to another customer

- Open up other networking opportunities

- Become a partner

- Become a friend

2. Share Idea/Get Opinions ~ Key word here being SHARE. Asking for ideas and opinions is good, but giving them is more important. Be sure you are giving back to the community.

3. Announce Specials and Events ~ This should be done only in appropriate categories and only if you are active in the community.

Some "don'ts" of message boards:

- Don't spam the board by posting your ads in inappropriate categories or threads. For example, in a category called "Parenting Advice", don't post your special on toys.

- Don't just post when someone is looking for a business. Get involved with the community and help people as much as you can without promoting your business to them.

- Don't rely on everyone else to start posts, start some yourself. If everyone else waited for someone else to post, no one would be posting. Share and experience with a party, or about an interesting article you read. Just get the conversation going!

- Don't join just to promote your business. If you join expecting your sales to explode, think again. Remember you are here for support, to share ideas, and make some friends. Sales will come eventually, and will probably not be directly.

There are all kinds of message boards, so be sure to follow the rules on each. A few of my favorite boards are:

Mommy's Helper Community: http://www.mommyshelperonline.com/phpBB2/index.html

WAHM.com: http://www.wahm.com

Self Starters Weekly: http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/forum/

Most importantly - Have Fun!

About the author: Kara Kelso is a work at home mom of two, and the co-owner of Direct Sales Helpers, which is dedicated to helping mothers succeed in direct sales. For more information, visit: http://www.DirectSalesHelpers.com

Latest News


Governor's office hosting small-business survival forums
Denver Post, CO - 3 hours ago
Bill Ritter's office said Thursday that his administration will organize a series of six "small-business finance forums" across the state starting next week ...
Surviving the downturn in Colorado Denver Post
all 4 news articles

Forums open today in UWGB chancellor search
Green Bay Press Gazette, WI - 56 minutes ago
The forums start today with local candidate Tom Olson, followed Monday by Michael Renner of Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pa. Thomas Harden of Clayton ...
UWGB study looks at boosting Green Bay port's freight capacity Appleton Post Crescent
all 3 news articles

Webcasting Plays Key Role in Chancellor Interviews at University ...
MarketWatch - 19 hours ago
He and the other four finalists for Chancellor participated in two days of campus interviews, including two public forums. The campus community was ...
Webcasting Plays Key Role in Chancellor Interviews at University ... International Business Times
all 13 news articles

Forums set in Hunterdon County for homeowners concerned about wood ...
Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - 13 hours ago
By WALTER O'BRIEN • Staff Writer • December 4, 2008 HUNTERDON COUNTY —A state legislator has announced two forums for homeowners concerned about the safety ...

Express Yourself! Forums
Gwinnett Gazette, GA - 17 hours ago
Join the Send-Off for Grayson Rams! - 2008/12/04 12:06 The Grayson Cheerleaders are trying to line Georgia 20 with cheering Grayson fans on Friday as the ...

State Senate Democrats Launch Statewide Budget Listening Tour
NewsLI, NY - 16 hours ago
(New York, NY) With New York State facing the biggest budget crisis in a generation, State Senate Democrats will convene a series of local forums around the ...

Small business survival meetings set
Bizjournals.com, NC - 17 hours ago
16 forum in Denver, Gov. Bill Ritter said Thursday. The free Small Business Finance Forums, sponsored by state and federal agencies, and financial trade ...

Wallkill School District plans community forums
Times Herald-Record, NY - Dec 3, 2008
HAMLET OF WALLKILL — The Wallkill School District will hold two community forums in December to share the district's vision and mission with the community ...
School Board Finalizes Bond, Focuses on Library Issues Larchmont Gazette
all 2 news articles

Board finishes up budget forums
Ypsilanti Courier, MI - Dec 3, 2008
By Tom Perkins , Special Writer The Ypsilanti Public School District Board held the second of two public forums on the financial issues facing the district. ...

Indianapolis Lands Influential National Medical Technology ...
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
To celebrate the organization's new headquarters location, the group is holding one of their three yearly forums in Indianapolis next Monday and Tuesday, ...
Indiana Scores National Influence With Medical Tech Think Tank Move MidwestBusiness.com
all 11 news articles

Resources