How to Get More Clients from Online Discussion Lists and Forums - A second major...
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A second major list and forum faux paus is to send a personal response to the list, instead of to the individual for whom it's intended. If someone has asked for replies to be sent "off-list", or if you have a question or comment that doesn't relate to the overall topic and focus of the list or forum, send the information to the person directly, instead of via the discussion list.
5. Integrity of your posting is important. I've been on lists in which a list member has posted a question, followed by an immediate reply from someone else on the list whose service or product perfectly matches the initial request. I'll then receive an email from the moderator reporting that both of these people have been banned from the list. Why? Because the poster and responder were the same person. This most often happens on lists where commercial posts are prohibited, so someone will create two identities on the list. The person uses one identity to ask the question on the list, and then log in or respond from the second identity, who can post a self-promotional email to the list, within the rules of the list, because it's a response to a direct request from another member. Don't get caught being duplicitous -- the Internet world is much smaller than you might think, and word travels quickly here.
6. Become the expert on the list. The best way to become a major player in a discussion list or forum is to actively add to the discussion. I don't mean to simply send a post that says, "Yes, I agree" and that's it. If you have an answer to a question or a point of view that will contribute to the knowledge being shared, that's the time to post to the list or forum.
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