Are You Advertising or Networking?

You join a forum/message board and think YES! Great networking opportunity. Problem is you are probably advertising not networking. Do you know the difference?

Networking and advertising are not the same thing. Message boards are not for advertising. They are for networking. Networking is relationship based building customer loyalty and making connections in the business world. Advertising is promoting a product/service in an attempt to make a sale.

Do you know how to network on a forum/message board?

When you network using forums/message boards, you building a relationship with your potential customers and creating a quality business reputation for yourself.

Here are a few important tips on how to make your networking experience positive or you, your business, and your customers.

It is very important to read all of the forum board rules, before posting for the first time. Rules and Guidelines vary from forum to forum so do not assume they are all the same.

Your forum profile is very important, so please don't overlook this and not complete your profile. Try to be as complete as possible with the information requested. Forum members do read new member profiles. It's a great way to let others know about you and your business. It is important to make yourself a signature while completing your profile. Your signature will be visible with each new post or reply you make.

Post an introduction on the forum/message board. Your intro should give your first name, state if you choose, a few personal items such as family and hobbies, and a brief blurb about your home business. Do not make your introduction post an ad. It makes you appear as a spammer and many will disregard you almost immediately. Do not make a post before your introduction. Some forums/message boards have specific rules on posting an introduction first. Even if they do not it is proper forum/message board etiquette.

Participate in some general topic discussions. This shows the other members that you are there for the right reasons. There is nothing worse than joining a forum board and immediately posting a business dd. Its a turn off to members and some forum/message board admins will immediately remove you from the forum/message board. Forums/message boards are for networking not advertising so interact with members. Get to know them and let them get to know you before you start posting ads.

Every forum/message board is different but one thing is certain, if you are joining just to advertise, don't join. Advertising is not networking. Before you join think about why you are joining. Join for the right reasons and your membership will be beneficial. The wrong reasons you will be wasting your time and the other members' time.

Be consistent when networking. Set aside time on a weekly basis, to visit the forum board. Participate in current topic discussions, or better yet, start a few new topic discussions yourself. This does not require large amounts of time. I like to schedule 2 hours a week to forums/message boards. That usually translates to 4 days with 30 minute time blocks. Do what works best for you but do this weekly.

Watch how you speak to others. Do not use curse words or overwhelming business jargon. You want to appear professional at all times while still having fun. Do not get into ugly arguments and lash out. It makes others afraid to do business with you. You may say you are who you are and people either like it or don't. The problem with bad attitudes is you will create a bad reputation for you and your business.

Join forums/message boards that you like not just because they can boost your sales. If you like scrapbooking but you sell headbands, join a scrapbooking forum/message board. If you join a forum/message board you enjoy, your interest will continue and not dwindle when you are bored.

The key to successful networking is involves all of the above and more. By taking the time to build quality networking relationships, you will build a professional online business reputation that others will be proud to do business with. You can't network if you don't interact with others. Get involved.

Olivia Vidal
© 2009
http://sochicbagboutique.com/

Featured WAHM

Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board is looking for a couple WAHMs to feature each week.

Each week we will select a deserving WAHM to be featured. Your name, company, company description, and banner will be seen by all.

How do I become a featured WAHM?
First you must be a member of Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board. Second, participate in discussions and support others.

Is there a cost to being a featured WAHM?
No. This is a special recognition we offer to you for being a participant and supporter of other WAHMs here on Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board.

How long will I be featured if chosen?
You will be featured 7 full days - Monday through Sunday. We choose a new featured WAHM every Friday and that person will be featured beginning the following Monday.

This is a great way to get your business seen. Join Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board and learn from other WAHMs and also share your knowledge. This learning and networking WAHM community is a must join.

Join our Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board at http://livswahmblog.proboards.com

NEW Message Board

I have opened a brand new message board - Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board. Come learn how to build your business and share your experiences. While other message boards for WAHMs are there to socialize and advertise, we are here to teach and network. While we have areas for you to socialize and interact with other WAHMs, our focus is coming together and learning what it takes to become a successful business. Find tips, articles, and support. If you are currently a work at home mother or looking to become a work at home mother, this is the place for you.

Come join us at http://livswahmblog.proboards.com/index.cgi

FREE Advertising

Some say there is no such thing but there is. You can advertise your business and sales for free on several areas of the Internet.

Some examples of free advertising are message boards, top 100 lists, traffic exchanges, link exchanges, blogs, plug boards, social networks, and even your email.

Message Boards:
Message boards are great because not only do you post ads but you also get to know your target market. Building relationships is essential in online marketing. Because you are at somewhat of a disadvantage of not being able to show product up front, you need to find creative ways to work around this.

Here are a couple message boards to get you started:
http://thecinnamonhollow.com/smf/index.php
http://wahmgina.proboards.com
http://shoppingbuddies.proboards2.com/index.cgi
http://wahmaddicts.proboards67.com/index.cgi
http://wahmspace.forumarena.com/forum.html

Top 100 Lists:
Top 100 are great for page rank and getting web crawlers all over your site. The more your link is out there, the better. Many of those submitting to these lists also click on your site. These generate traffic that can result in sales or even team members. While many feel they are a waste of time, take advantage. These can be your best friend. The more people see your site, the more likely they are to remember it when it comes to shopping.

Here are a couple top 100 lists to get you started to get you started:
http://sochicbagboutique.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=101
http://shopatlivs.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=103
http://topwahmblogs.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=101
http://lunawolfsmysticalessence.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=113
http://readybanner.gotop100.com/in.php?ref=478

Traffic Exchanges:
I know some are not a fan of these and while they can be work to keep up with, these can be very rewarding. This is especially true when first starting out. The main thing is to get your name out there. These do just that. You may reach an audience you had no access to previously. I do recommend not signing up for several. Find a few that are recommended to you, have a professional appearance, and are targeting your needed audience. Example is if you are selling diapers, you do not want to get on an exchange that is geared towards techs or men. Periodically change your sites in these, stop and start your site in rotation (meaning only apply a certain amount of rotation credits and stop when these run out for a short time). While you want to get your name out there you do not want over kill. You can have the best site there is but if that is the only thing you see all day, every day, your audience is bored. Think about this when you are watching a show and the same commercial is played over and over again. Another great way to use a traffic exchange is they almost all have a chat or shout out box. Each day you log in to surf, post a quick blurb with your link or any specials you have going. You can also do this in the surf and chat sections.

Here are a couple traffic exchanges to get you started to get you started:
http://www.thecinnamonhollow.biz/?r=57978
http://wahm-trade.com?r=58332
http://www.shoppingwithmoms.com/?r=59068

Link Exchange:
This can be the tricky one but can work very well. This is where you and another person place each other's link on your website. This is why this one can be tricky. If you do not have a website this is not able to be done. You can however setup a free website using hosts such as webs.com. While I don't recommend these for everyday business these are great for helping each other out and using these. Just make sure you site is not like everyone else, you are not filled with nothing but banners, and you offer some great information. Just links and banners will not work and most people will not click on them because of it. Use this valuable space properly. If you are selling an item, have a picture, and a pay button. Do not have your products set to take you off on another site. It defeats the purpose. If you do not wish to sell product, offer helpful tips, recipes, even a blog.

Social Networks:
Social networks are sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Cafemom, Tagged, and so forth. These can often be over used but the potential to use and how they are used are dramatically under used. These pages are there to be social not just one big advertisement. Gain friends and get to know them. Post the occasional ad but keep these fun. This is why many go wrong on these pages. They use them as ads and people get tired of them. Facebook allows you to create a page just for your business. In this case make it about your business. Many social networks allow creation of groups. Create groups. These can be groups for fans of your product, team members, or groups just to network with others in your niche. DO NOT directly sell products on these sites. Many times these are in direct violation. These are not for you to sell such as a shopping website. If you are caught or reported your page will be deleted and you may be banned. Nobody wants to do business with someone who cannot follow the rules.

Blogs:
Everyone has a blog these days. They go from personal to informational to advertisements. If you have a business, you need a blog. Post sales, teach people about your product, address a need and why your product satisfies this. Don't stop there. Post your tips as a mom balancing work and home. Post your own recipe that you have created and been serving to your family. Have a holiday coming up? Share why this holiday is special not just a holiday sale. Blogs are online journals. Use them as such.

Plug Boards:
These are a bit old school but still widely popular. Use them. These are more exposure for those not only visiting the plug boards but also visiting the site these are placed on. I personally recommend plug boards for 125x125 banners or 468x60 banners. These are more visible and more easily found. The smaller 88x31 will get your link out there but can often become lost in a sea of mini banners.

Email:
The last place your link should always be is your email signature. Many times people are clicking on these to see what you offer. This is traffic and traffic can equal sales and recruits. Your signature should always be attached to all outgoing emails no matter new or replies.

Newspapers:
While these paid ads can be expensive, some papers offer free ad space when they need fillers. College papers are a great example of this. This may take some leg work but find all the papers available in your area including free papers and see who offers this.

City websites:
How many cities these days do not have a website. Many are offering free classifieds on their site. This is very useful. Not only are you getting the attention of locals but also those interested in visiting or relocating. This is a great place to post recruiting ads. Contact your local chamber of commerce to inquire about all websites available for your city. You will be surprised as there may be a few brand new sites who are needing exposure. This is when you can also give back. Get your ad space then pass out the new site.

This list is not all inclusive. These are just a jumping off point to show you free ads are possible. You have to look for the right spot. Just placing your website and ad anywhere will not cut it. Be selective and where your target audience will be exposed to what you have to offer.

Advertising Highjacking

First thing many ask is what is advertising hijacking? This is what I call it when someone posts a thread on a message board or different social groups (such as Yahoo groups or Google groups), and another comes in from the same company and offers the same thing or a different special trying to get sales or recruits off someones post. This happens often in chat rooms as well.

Example of this is: I am offering you 20% off your entire order of wonder widge books and if you sign up now. Another person, maybe even my own upline, will ask could share such and such if the host doesn't mind. The idea is out there, the answer is yes so they do not have conflict or appear rude, and the offer is announced. This is the case where the other is making the sale or recruit not the host no matter how it was intended. This is advertising hijacking.

One, this should never have been asked in front of everyone. Two you should never hijack a party hosted by another, thread posted by another, or directly follow with the same add right behind someone who has posted already. Who will actually say no in front of everyone? The answer is always yes forcing that person to allow you to advertise and reap the benefits they are working so hard for. You may say the other can say no but would they really want to say in front of everyone no don't advertise during my party? Even if they want to say now they feel forced to agree so no is not an option. It suddenly changes the mood of the party and the guests will make a decision on how they feel about the person or persons in questions and also the company.

If you were having a home party for your business would you allow someone else to offer your guests a different special if you order or join under them instead of you? Of course not. They are in your home and you would consider this act rude in your home. Nobody would ever dream of doing this. So why is this happening in so many circles on the internet?

Many feel they are helping rather than hindering in these cases. Your intention may be there but how it is seen can be another story. The one hosting is the one to make all sales announcements, offerings, specials. If you want to assist, have a discussion in private. Never in public. Reason is you may be causing others to feel the host is unknowledgeable, unable to assist them, a company they do not want to do business with because they allow their representatives/consultants/affiliates to conduct themselves in a way that is not favorable.

Thankfully this has yet to happen to me but I am seeing this everyday. This is not an uncommon practice. This is becoming the norm. There is nothing wrong with healthy competition. Just remember one word in that phrase - healthy.

Before you post an ad following another in a group or message board thread, during a party that is not yours (including shameless plugs for another product), think about a couple things:
Will this give me more sign ups?
Will I profit from this directly?
Would I do this standing alongside another for the same company/product in front of an actual customer?

This is all about stepping on toes. If you wouldn't appreciate another do the same unto you, don't do it. It makes for bad networking relationships. You need these in the business world especially online. If you take part in anything similar you are losing not only an ally but you can be damaging the confidence resulting in lower team sales and that affects your bottom line.

There is always someone watching. While others say there is nothing wrong with it outwardly, they may be saying to themselves how rude and decide at that point to either not buy from that company no matter the actions or just not buy from you. Don't allow them the opportunity to think ill of you or your company. Even if just one has this enter their mind it can spread like wild fire. Negative reviews and experiences are announced loudly and news spreads quickly. Positive reviews and experiences are quiet, less profound, spread slowly if at all.

Give them reason to announce to all how wonderful and excited they are to use your product proudly. As the say goes you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.