Speak Out Online
Copyright 2003 Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady.com

Looking for more traffic at your website? Want to make people aware of who you are, and build an expert reputation? Need input on your new website design, or help with a problem? Want to help others solve their problems? Post to online communities through newsgroups, email lists, bulletin boards, and other discussion groups.

There are discussion groups for just about any topic and any group of people you can imagine. For example, I belong to online groups of publishers and e-publishers. You can find lists for people who have shared interests in business, hobbies, health, lifestyle, heritage or just about anything. On these lists, people with like interests share questions, solutions, problems and successes.

The operation of lists can vary. Often, they are email based. When you send a message to the group address, it goes to everyone who is subscribed to the list. Other groups are web based, and you post using a form at a web site.

Some groups are moderated, and each message must be approved by the moderator before it goes on to other subscribers. Some don't moderate every message, but someone who posts inappropriately may be removed from the list. Others are raging free-for-alls where anything goes.

As you can imagine, what is acceptable also varies by group. Most don't allow you to post something which is purely advertising. However, including your signature file when posting a relevant message is generally OK. A signature file is usually about 4 - 8 lines long and includes your identification and a brief description of your business, a product or service. One of my standard sig files is included at the bottom of this message.

If you format your URL like this in your sig file: http://www.IdeaLady.com it will show up in some email programs as a hotlink, so readers can click right through. On the other hand, www.IdeaLady.com may or may not show up as a hotlink, so they might have to cut-and-paste or retype it. Make it easier for them to visit your site to encourage them to click right through to you.

To get the most from your postings, find the lists your customers would belong to. You can find thousands of discussion groups sorted by topic at http://www.topica.com. Read the information about the lists, subscribe to a few that look interesting, and read a few days of posts to get the feel of the list. When you see an opportunity to answer a question, or raise an issue for discussion, jump in.

I've noticed that any time I post to these groups, traffic at my web site increases. Especially when I have posted a solution to someone's problem. Inc. magazine's web site has several forums where visitors post questions and others offer solutions and comments. When I answered a question about low-cost marketing methods, lots of people who saw the response came to check out my web site.

You can find lots of lists at http://www.yahoogroups.com and other web sites. Find the lists and forums you want to be part of, become familiar with the "netiquette" of the group, look for opportunities to participate, then make relevant, helpful posts. By doing so, you can increase awareness and build a reputation as an expert in your field.

You'll find lots of great information on managing and promoting your web site, growing your business and more at http://www.freearticles.biz/. Most articles may be freely reproduced at your web site or in your print or online newsletter.

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