How vital are message boards to running your online business? - GoFuckYourself.com

03-06-2004, 02:47 PM

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 · 03-06-2004, 02:48 PM

I feel you will win the top GFY thread of a day award again. ;)

stocktrader23 · 03-06-2004, 02:48 PM

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.

03-06-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

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.

slapass · 03-06-2004, 03:11 PM

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.

Illicit · 03-06-2004, 03:12 PM

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

cashman · 03-06-2004, 03:16 PM

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

Observing · 03-06-2004, 03:18 PM

of no importance whatsoever

03-06-2004, 03:19 PM

Quote:

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.

SLAiN787 · 03-06-2004, 03:20 PM

03-06-2004, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SLAiN787
10

Short. Simple. To the point.

Nice answer.

mardigras · 03-06-2004, 03:39 PM

Boards are important for "keeping it fresh"

GrimShawn · 03-06-2004, 03:41 PM

it's important to mine

Webby · 03-06-2004, 04:03 PM

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"?

chrisp420 · 03-06-2004, 04:04 PM

10 - great way to meet people

03-06-2004, 04:29 PM

Quote:

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.

MichaelP · 03-08-2004, 06:36 PM

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...

DamageX · 03-08-2004, 06:54 PM

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.

Rick Latona · 03-08-2004, 06:58 PM

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.

03-06-2004, 02:47 PM	#1
shermo Guest Posts: n/a	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?

03-06-2004, 02:48 PM	#2
polish_aristocrat Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 40,377	I feel you will win the top GFY thread of a day award again. ;) __________________ I don't use ICQ anymore.

03-06-2004, 02:48 PM	#3
stocktrader23 Let's do some business. Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The dirty south. Posts: 18,781	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."

03-06-2004, 03:12 PM	#6
Illicit wtf ? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: GFY Posts: 11,895	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

03-06-2004, 03:18 PM	#8
Observing Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 809	of no importance whatsoever __________________ ICQ: 278-457-533

03-06-2004, 03:11 PM	#5
slapass Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 14,622	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.

03-06-2004, 03:16 PM	#7
cashman Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 898	If it is a targeted message board with no other BS then a 10+

03-06-2004, 03:20 PM	#10
SLAiN787 Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 693	10

03-06-2004, 03:39 PM	#12
mardigras Bon temps! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: down yonder Posts: 14,194	Boards are important for "keeping it fresh" __________________ .

03-06-2004, 03:41 PM	#13
GrimShawn Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: BONEPRONE MANSION serving drinks! Posts: 8,120	it's important to mine

03-06-2004, 04:03 PM	#14
Webby Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Far far away - as possible Posts: 14,956	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"?

03-06-2004, 04:04 PM	#15
chrisp420 Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NY/MA Posts: 572	10 - great way to meet people __________________ icq: 327189899

03-08-2004, 06:36 PM	#17
MichaelP Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: QWEBEC Corporate Office Posts: 7,124	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...

03-08-2004, 06:54 PM	#18
DamageX Marketing & Strategy Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Former nomad Posts: 14,293	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!

03-08-2004, 06:58 PM	#19
Rick Latona The Best Ideas Start Here Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,037	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.