| Marketing in Online Forums: Being Yourself, Whether People Love You or Hate You |
| Description: |
| Whether or not you actually get business from participation in online business forums depends on how you conduct yourself within the communities, and I don’t mean how well you are liked. I actually get a stream of regular referrals from an online business forum where many to most of the members absolutely hate me. |
| Author: |
| the_professional |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Marketing in Online Forums: Being Yourself, Whether People Love You or Hate You |
|
Marketing in Online Forums: Being Yourself, Whether People Love You or Hate You
I absolutely LOVE to participate in online forums, particularly business forums. There is so much to learn in these corners of the web; not just from the free information that businesspeople post in their quest to gain attention, but from the interaction of the members themselves. I am a people watcher, and online business forums are just as good as the airport, if not better (people watchers know what I mean). The successes, the failures, the regulars, the lurkers, the egomaniacs, and the shameless self-promotion; they all work together to create a learning environment that supposedly supports business networking and lead generation.
But does it?
Yes and no; whether or not you actually get business from participation in online business forums depends on how you conduct yourself within the communities, and I don’t mean how well you are liked. I actually get a stream of regular referrals from an online business forum where many to most of the members absolutely hate me.
WHAT?
Hey, I am who I am, and I can’t be everything to everybody. I learned that a long time ago (the hard way), and I have also learned from my business mentors that such misguided networking strategy is actually detrimental. Filling niches is much more effective for the solo/small business owner, and apparently, that concept carries over into one’s social interaction as well. I have found a niche that I fill socially with my adverse views and unique personality; in some circles, I am the one they love to hate.
But it works for me, and I end up getting business!
You see, you don’t have to be everyone’s friend in an online community to be respected. Those who like me are few and far between, but they are usually on the same wavelength as me, so partnerships and referral networks come as a result. Those who may not agree with me but respect the views I have and/or the way that I express them tend to refer me to clients and friends despite our differences.
And those who hate me? Well, they tend to add the soap-opera style drama to online forums that keep people coming back. I try to choose my battles wisely, only engaging in “flame wars” that stand to bring light to a subject that I actually care about. However, when I do get into ‘heated debates’ with other forum members, I get attention, and that attention can be converted into personal promotion if I present myself in the right way:
• As a professional, I always carry myself with dignity, which is often considered to be aloofness or conceit by those who do not possess the same values as me.
• As a writing professional, I always write in a way that exemplifies my mastery of the English language, which again, burns some people up; but only those who are not so well spoken.
• As an individual, I stand my ground and support my statements with solid principles or factual information (when necessary), which often enrages those who sit at the opposite end of the spectrum, but makes for good reading to those who are not judgmental.
It’s the respect of others that brings you business, and it is possible to be respected by them whose palettes you may not satisfy personally. I strategically use online forums to exemplify the skills and qualities that I use in my business, even if it means going toe to toe with someone who hates my guts. As a writing professional, I must admit, it is a little easier for me to use this technique to promote myself. However, the same techniques work for any business professional; you just have to stay within your lane. I have the luxury of being able to show my writing skills in any topic area, but if you apply the same principles within your area of expertise and that area ONLY (remember, you can’t be everything to everybody), then you can do the same.
I know a couple of guys who only post every now and then in one of the forums I frequent, but offer such quality information that they are still regarded as gurus, even though they are never on the scene.
See what I mean?
Marketing in online forums can be successful whether people love you or hate you. Get their respect, and to the wind with everything else. In business, none of that stuff matters, anyway...
To your continued success,
I.C. Jackson, Freelance Editor, Ghostwriter
616.608.2245
Busy schedule? Send me a text message NOW
Jackson Proofreading and Editing
(Links open in new windows)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Favorites
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Magnolia
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
BlinkList