Message Board Basics 101

Where can you go to exchange and share ideas?
Is there someplace where you can ask for advice
or just ask questions concerning home
based businesses?

You bet!

Message boards, AKA, discussion forums.

A message board is a place on the web that
allows for reader participation and interaction.

Here, you can ask questions and become part of
what is known as a "thread."

A "thread" is just an ongoing set of comments,
discussions, and questions that starts off with
one member's post. A "post" is simply someone's
comment or question that is "posted," or sent
to the board.

So, essentially a message board is similar
to a "bulletin board in cyber space."

There are certain guidelines of etiquette on
most forums. They are usually posted at the
beginning of the site. Here are some general
guidelines:

(1) Watch your language!
~Common sense, really. Don't swear!
Be courteous! Otherwise, your message
could be deleted.


(2) Advertising
~Read the rules of any board that you
participate on. If they allow ads, go for it!
That's why they exist! But...
If they don't allow ads, and you post one,
chances are your post will be deleted and,
you could get kicked off the board.

Note:
~Most forums will allow you to include your
site URL and/or a signature file.
You might even get to include a text
"link caption" to spark curiosity.

(3) Recruiting
~Most boards don't allow recruiting. It's
pretty much akin to advertising.

There are 2 types of discussion boards--moderated
and unmoderated.

Moderated boards usually have someone who reads
each new message before it's posted. Then a
decision is made about it's contents, if it
meets board regulations, or if it's just an ad.

If it's decided that it is an ad, then chances
are it will get deleted. Some moderators will
even send some type of "tsk,tsk" message to the
poster. You might get an even nastier email from
members of the board.

Deleting an ad simply saves the other board
participants from having to waste time looking
at it.

Conversely, unmoderated boards exist for
advertising purposes. If you don't mind all of
the posting, this could be the place for you.

What you'll find could be a place for you to test
ads. But understand that you will probably not
get too much attention. It seems that marketers
who use these forums won't necessarily be
reading your ad. They are there to post their
ads.

Here are just a scant few message or discussion
boards that you can visit:

http://www.mlmwoman.com/wwwboard/
http://www.talkbiz.com/cgi-bin/mlm.cgi
http://www.freemoneyservices.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi

http://www.mlmforums.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro
http://www.mlm.com click on "Forum"
http://start-smartz.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi "Kiki's
Cafe"

As a reminder: You may want to do some business
with some of the people on these boards someday
so follow those guidelines. Don't forget that
THEY might want to do business with you, too.

Usually, the people who post on these forums
are friendly and willing to lend a hand,
in regard to sharing advice or information.

For example, if you are an ezine publisher and
would like to find out how to sell or buy an
ezine, go to your favorite board, post the
question, and check in a couple times a day for
a few days and see if there are any responses.

Don't be surprised when you log into your email
box one day and find a response or two to a post
you might have made the night before.
It happens!

Message boards, discussion forums, whatever you
choose to call them can be a great source of
exposure for you and your business. They can also
be valuable in building camaraderie and
relationships. Not to mention, they are an
excellent resource for obtaining up to date
information, tips and insight.

Inject your own personality into your posts.
Above all, go with the flow and just have
a good time.

About the Author

Ron Kimball is the editor of "LeaderZKorner," a
weekly electronic publication that is geared
towards home based business owners.
For a FREE subscription, go to:
>http://www.lzkorner.com<