The Unwritten Rules of Advertising on Forums

Written by Martin Avis


There are thousands of newsgroups and forums online. They provide a fascinating and useful insight intorepparttar minds and methods of others who share our interests. They also act as an amazing resource for finding out almost anything you need to know.

Want your website critiqued? Ask at a forum. Want to know how to salvage Outlook? Ask at a forum. Want to know if a particular book is worth buying? Ask at a forum.

Almost anything is fair game - providing it is reasonably on topic. And dropping in to forums is a great way for newcomers to a field to rub shoulders withrepparttar 100941 old hands.

This openness leads to a temptation that is repeated over and over again. "Ah," many people think, "a highly targeted market! I must post an ad for my site and watch them beat my door down to buy my wares."

Wrong. That isrepparttar 100942 fastest way to oblivion.

Forums are not advertising notice boards. They are not likerepparttar 100943 pin board inrepparttar 100944 kitchen that anyone can put up a 'for sale' ad on.

Forums are much more likerepparttar 100945 coffee machine orrepparttar 100946 water cooler. People hang out, swap ideas, chat for a while. They don't want someone popping up every five minutes trying to sell them something. They are trying to chill out.

That isrepparttar 100947 warning. But like all warnings, it has a caveat: there are ways to get your advertising message across - if you followrepparttar 100948 unwritten rules.

So I figured I'd write those unwritten rules down.

The key to 'advertising' on forums and newsgroups is not to.

As soon as you put up a post that even looks remotely like an ad, you will usually either be removed by a moderator or flamed by incensed members. Quite right. They didn't ask for your commercial break and they certainly don't appreciate your intrusion.

Then,repparttar 100949 worst thing of all happens: your reputation is shot. Anyone in business should have a mind torepparttar 100950 long term. It is pointless to try to make money from one promotion -repparttar 100951 real value of marketing is repeat business. Spamrepparttar 100952 boards and forums and you will quickly find thatrepparttar 100953 word spreads. Nobody will want to do business with you.

Five easy ways to add punch to your words

Written by Angela Booth


*Article Use Guidelines*

Use in opt-in publications, or on Web sites, but please includerepparttar resource box. If you could send a copy to me at email address: mailto:ab@digital-e.biz , I appreciate it. Many thanks. **

Summary: Writing is hard, even for writers. These five techniques will make your writing chores easier, and your writing livelier.

Total words: 800

Category: Small Business

Five easy ways to add punch to your words

Copyright (c) 2002 by Angela Booth

Writing is hard, even for writers. These five techniques will make your writing chores easier, and your writing livelier.

It's time to write something important, and your palms sweat. You force yourself to write, while gritting your teeth and hating every moment ofrepparttar 100940 process. Your palms sweat some more. And your head aches, because you realize that your words have allrepparttar 100941 life of roadkill. Why is it thatrepparttar 100942 more importantrepparttar 100943 writing task,repparttar 100944 more lifeless your words? Maybe it's performance anxiety. You tense up, instead of lettingrepparttar 100945 words flow.

Try these five easy ways to add punch to your words:

1. Get conversational, and write fast

When you're writing, imagine you're talking to someone. Just having a quiet chat. You want to tell them about whatever it is you're writing about.

To make this easier, write inrepparttar 100946 form of a letter: "Dear Joanne Let me tell you about..."

Write quickly, exactly as you'd speak. Don't worry about grammar, spelling and typos. Just blurt out whatever you have to say.

Force yourself to do this by setting a time limit. Set a timer for five minutes. Tap out (or write, if you're using pen and paper) any kind of gibberish at all for five minutes. Turning off your monitor helps, because it stops you seeingrepparttar 100947 words and going back to correct typos.

2. Get specific

Want to write waffle? Generalize. Like in this sentence from a real estate agent's ad for a house:

"You are certain to be impressed byrepparttar 100948 space in this three bedroom family home."

I looked atrepparttar 100949 photo ofrepparttar 100950 house, and wrote:

"Shaded by palms and eucalypts and surrounded by a well- maintained garden, this three bedroom, honey-gold brick mini- mansion offers your family space to play and grow. "

Not Shakespeare, butrepparttar 100951 words describe this house specifically.

3. Get sensuous

Be a reporter. Use your senses. What can you see, hear, smell, touch and taste?

When you report what's happening, your reader is right there with you.

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