Join the Discussion
by Jane McLain
Joining an online discussion list is a great opportunity to network, learn from your peers, and promote your business, and it costs you nothing but your time.
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Joining an online discussion list offers many benefits for netrepreneurs and costs you nothing but your time. Posting to the list gives other members a chance to get to know you and your company without any sales pressure. You can use your sig file to promote your business with every message you send. You may also have the opportunity to post special offers for members only, a great way to introduce people to your products or services. Participating in a discussion list gives you an opportunity to:
- Learn from your peers
- Get answers to your questions
- Network with others in your industry
- Find leads and prospects
- Get ideas for article topics
- Gain insight into your target market
- Find marketing partners
- Get free targeted marketing
- Establish your credibility
- Build your reputation
- Generate referrals and endorsements
- Take advantage of special offers for list members
The first step is to find the right discussion list. If you have a favorite website or ezine, check to see whether the webmaster also runs a discussion list. Ask your friends and colleagues for their recommendations. You can visit your favorite search engine site and enter the search terms "discussion list" and "mailing list" plus any topics of particular interest to you. You can go list hosting services' websites and search through their hosted lists for one that suits you.
Here are some list hosts to try:
Find out all you can about the focus of the list and the interests of its members. If the list has a companion Web page, start there to get a feel for the list's focus and what the members are like. If list archives are available, read through recent messages to see what topics are being discussed and whether they're relevant to your own business. In choosing a list consider:
Relevance: Are you interested in the topics being discussed? Is the focus of the list too broad or too narrow? Are other members' issues relevant to your own situation?
List culture: What is the tone of the conversation on the list - friendly and supportive, or "all business"? Terse or chatty? Helpful and supportive or largely self-serving?
List rules: Some lists have very few rules and others have a long list of rules that are strictly enforced by the listmaster. Check out the rules and make sure you can live with them.
Members: Do the members seem to be the kind of people who could and would help you? Are they likely prospects for your product or service?
Networking opportunities: Does the list offer opportunities for offline networking as well? Some listmasters host an annual get-together or provide a way to meet fellow list members who live in your area.
Perks: Do list members receive extra perks like member discounts, access to online resources, a free listing in an online directory, etc.? These are nice bonuses for list participants.
The only way to know for sure whether a list is right for you is to sign up and try it out for awhile. Go ahead and introduce yourself, but then "lurk" for a bit until you've learned the ropes and gotten a feel for the list, then go ahead and join the discussion. Make sure you understand the list rules and comply with them. Take your time when you compose a message, and always double check your grammar and spelling. This is your chance to build your professional image online, so you definitely want to make a good impression.
Related articles:
Discussion List Do's and Don'ts
Promoting Your Business Online
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