How vital are message boards to running your online business?

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  • shermo
    • Jul 2026

    #1

    How vital are message boards to running your online business?

    Networking is key, and message boards are the way to make connections. On a scale of 1-10, how important do you feel message boards are to expanding your online businesses?
  • polish_aristocrat
    Too lazy to set a custom title
    • Jul 2002
    • 40377

    #2
    I feel you will win the top GFY thread of a day award again. ;)
    I don't use ICQ anymore.

    Comment

    • stocktrader23
      Let's do some business.
      • Jan 2003
      • 18781

      #3
      My old business. 1 out of 10. Design stuff I started 10 out of 10. I make more with the old stuff though so I'd get along fine if every board died tomorrow.


      Hands Free Adult - Join Once, Earn For Life

      "I try to make a habit of bouncing my eyes up to the face of a beautiful woman, and often repeat “not mine” in my head or even verbally. She’s not mine. God has her set aside. She’s not mine. She’s His little girl, and she needs me to fight for her by keeping my eyes where they should be."

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      • shermo

        #4
        Originally posted by polish_aristocrat
        I feel you will win the top GFY thread of a day award again. ;)
        Not what I'm going for, but it's always a plus. Everything I'm asking is knowledge I'm applying to my everyday business practices, and for the most part I'm getting great responses!

        I feel message boards are now at an 8/10 for me. I make most of my connections on them, it?s opened many doors for business opportunities and if I'm looking for any types of services, it has a large pool of individuals available who have real life testimonials at the post of a thread.

        Comment

        • slapass
          Too lazy to set a custom title
          • Nov 2002
          • 14625

          #5
          Everey dime I have made since '99 was gotten from an idea or contact on message boards.

          So I give them a 10 on the importance scale.

          Comment

          • Illicit
            wtf ?
            • Dec 2003
            • 11895

            #6
            the knowlege gained on these boards can be valuable. You have to sift through the crap though. There's lots of crap.
            Insert Sig Here

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            • cashman
              Confirmed User
              • Mar 2004
              • 898

              #7
              If it is a targeted message board with no other BS then a 10+

              Comment

              • Observing
                Confirmed User
                • Jan 2004
                • 809

                #8
                of no importance whatsoever

                ICQ: 278-457-533

                Comment

                • shermo

                  #9
                  Originally posted by ajpiii
                  the knowlege gained on these boards can be valuable. You have to sift through the crap though. There's lots of crap.
                  That always is a problem, but if you sift through hard enough, you can always find a couple posts that will get your mind working, or additional traffic flowing.

                  Comment

                  • SLAiN787
                    Confirmed User
                    • Nov 2003
                    • 693

                    #10
                    10

                    Comment

                    • shermo

                      #11
                      Originally posted by SLAiN787
                      10
                      Short. Simple. To the point.

                      Nice answer.

                      Comment

                      • mardigras
                        Bon temps!
                        • Feb 2003
                        • 14194

                        #12
                        Boards are important for "keeping it fresh"
                        .

                        Comment

                        • GrimShawn
                          Confirmed User
                          • Oct 2002
                          • 8120

                          #13
                          it's important to mine

                          Comment

                          • Webby
                            Too lazy to set a custom title
                            • Oct 2002
                            • 14956

                            #14
                            OK for "scanning" - there is the odd bit of useful info, otherwise the time ya can spend on boards does not cover anything near the costs of doing *actual* work.

                            The irony is that anyone who has been in this business for some years knows (or should know!) what needs doing - it's a matter of actually doing, and completing, all these projects ya got on the list :-)

                            The boards often rehash new angles on stuff, but wot's the point of that when ya ain't even created something out of the previous "angles"?
                            XXX TLD's - Another mosquito to swat.

                            Comment

                            • chrisp420
                              Confirmed User
                              • Aug 2002
                              • 572

                              #15
                              10 - great way to meet people
                              icq: 327189899

                              Comment

                              • shermo

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Webby
                                OK for "scanning" - there is the odd bit of useful info, otherwise the time ya can spend on boards does not cover anything near the costs of doing *actual* work.

                                The irony is that anyone who has been in this business for some years knows (or should know!) what needs doing - it's a matter of actually doing, and completing, all these projects ya got on the list :-)

                                The boards often rehash new angles on stuff, but wot's the point of that when ya ain't even created something out of the previous "angles"?
                                Of course it doesn't beat doing the actual work. It does however establish connections so that when the time is right, fellow webmasters will give your product a shot, whether it's pushing traffic, promoting it, etc.

                                Comment

                                • MichaelP
                                  Registered User
                                  • Aug 2003
                                  • 7124

                                  #17
                                  3x Web Design : 0
                                  QWEBEC Trade Show : 7

                                  For me, the boards are a nice way to keep in touch with the industry, friends and stay informed about some trnds, but honnestly, I did not make any more business since I am coming to the boards.. on the design side.

                                  I am in this industry since 96 with a bunch of regular and recurring clients, and on the board for not even a year now, so I can not say that being on the boards gave me more business. I have to say that I am not as active as some others here, some have more time to spend here, some don't .. So I am not the most visible, amybe If I'd be posting more, I'd do more business with boards community but this is not the case for now...


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                                  • DamageX
                                    Marketing & Strategy
                                    • Jun 2001
                                    • 14293

                                    #18
                                    If your business is geared towards providing services/products to other webmasters, then 10/10. If you're only looking to promote sponsors and/or your own sites, not really vital at all. Might come in handy to hear about bad sponsors, but not if you only promote your own sites.
                                    Whitehat is for chumps

                                    If you don't do it, somebody else will - true story!

                                    Comment

                                    • Rick Latona
                                      The Best Ideas Start Here
                                      • Dec 2002
                                      • 6037

                                      #19
                                      I give boards a 7. I stayed away from them for years because I thought they were a waste of time but I get a ton of business done on the boards.

                                      It's like a tradeshow online, everday.
                                      Regards,

                                      Rick Latona
                                      http://latonas.com

                                      Latona's - We Sell Money Making Web Properties
                                      Note to buyers of websites and traffic: please check our inventory at http://latonas.com/websites-for-sale. If you would like to make an offer on something, just let me know.

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