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Any business takes time, effort, money, learning and growing into an excellent communicator, and focus--especially with online marketing! Focus is crucial because there are so many distractions. You have to have the ability to say NO to many good opportunities so that you an say YES to only the BEST opportunity!

Here are some valuable tips when communicating with people in online communities:

• It's best to use the same username and password for all of your forum registrations. This makes it easier to remember them! You could also make a list of all your forums and memberships and put them in an online file for quick and easy access to all your links.
  
  
• It's also best to use your real name in your username to brand yourself online!
  
  
• I always use sueseward, and many people know and recognize that name after being online since 1996 and contributing consistently to the forums.
  
  
• Be professional at all times. Do not use the forums to advertise your business. Only place ads in specified areas. Be prepared for spam, which is other people sending you their business info. This is where FOCUS comes in!
  
  
• Forums are for giving and receiving advice, and contributing information and content that people can get some value and benefit from.
  
  
• Always make sure you set up your signature file with your website link and your sig line will show up on all your posts. If someone wants to get in touch with you or learn about your business or products/services, they will visit your link.
  
  
• Try to only spend 30 to 40 minutes a day in forums. Be consistent but be careful of how much time you spend in the forums. Time can pass by very quickly online and before you know it, you're spending hours in the forums and haven't done anything to build your business; and the laundry can pile up pretty high too! Your children can go hungry and your dog will explode if you don't take him out for a walk!
  
  
• Try not to get into arguments or debates about who has the best company, comp plan, etc. This will only waste your time and theirs! Everyone thinks THEIR company and product is the best!
  
  
• Always respect other people and what they are doing, and respect their business.
  
  
• Read over a few forum posts first to get a feel for the members and their personalities and then contribute. Everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to teach! Remember that everyone has something of value to contribute even if you’re new to the forums or the industry!
  
  
• Be polite. Remember, what goes around always comes back around sooner or later. Never burn your bridges or your relationships! Treat people like you would like to be treated! Remember, they have a company and product they love, so respect that!
  
  
• Remember, people are lurking on the forums looking for a company, products, and a sponsor, and when they see people who are professional, polite, giving, and that have a serving attitude, guess who they're going to contact?
  
  
• Make sure you first introduce yourself in the introduction area. This is actually where people will expect you to share all about yourself, what you do, and what your business/product is. Make sure you're personable and it doesn't look like advertising! This is crucial even in this area.
  
  
• People don't like to be sold, they like to be heard; so listen to what people are saying in the forums and respond to them with something of value!
  
  
• Remember, the most important thing about marketing online is to brand yourself. You do this by being real, personable, and letting people know you and what your gifts and talents are, as well as how you're willing to contribute and serve others.
  

Author Unknown