Online forums are amazing. If you are new to a particular subject, you can quickly learn the in’s and out’s of the industry by simply hanging out at a forum that specializes in that particular theme. You can learn the basics, get new ideas, and interact with other people that share the same interest. In most cases, you can also ask questions and count on getting them answered by senior members who have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.

If you are new to internet marketing, it makes sense to visit some of these sites. While it may be a little confusing and intimidating at first, the knowledge you can gain is invaluable. Start out by reading – a lot. Use the search function and you may be surprised that just about every question you have has already been asked by someone, thoroughly discussed, and answered in minute detail.

In this stage of lurking, you will be learning the ropes, getting used to the lingo, and basically getting a feel for the place. Once you feel comfortable, introduce yourself and try to contribute to the discussions.

Okay, now I can’t honestly say that forums are the best thing since sliced bread. In fact, there are many negative aspects that you need to be aware of. Here are a few:

Newbies are not always greeted with open arms. You would thing that they would cut you some slack, but there are two things working against you here. One, is that there are many people on the forum that are on an ego trip and they consider newbies a lower form of life. Just try asking a question that has been asked a dozen times before and see how quickly you get pounced on. And the second thing that is working against you is the fact that you are new and have no reputation. There are a lot of scammers and spammers that try to make their way onto these forums and the members have no way of knowing whether you are real or not. Guilty until proven innocent is often the case here.

You must be aware of people trying to sell you things. This is especially true in the internet marketing forums. It’s no secret that some people make a living selling information to newbies. You may encounter some who are a little pushy and tend to join in a discussion in which they have a chance at selling something. That question you have about how to create a website has suddenly attracted the attention of many “helpful” people that just happen to be selling some software that will solve your problem in their signature. These people push the rules of the forum and it is obvious that their only motivation is to try and make a sale. Having said that, there is a lot of quality information for sale – especially on the Warrior Forum that can really make your life easier – especially if you are new to all this.

The third thing you need to be aware of is the fact that you can waste an incredible amount of time surfing the various forum sites. In fact, it can get to the point where it can seriously jeopardize your business. It doesn’t take long to burn away a few hours on a forum. That’s why it is imperative that you are able to get your information without getting sucked into petty arguments and other time-wasters. For every minute you spend participating in, or reading threads that have nothing to do with your core business, the more time you’ll have to make up later. Yes, you can become addicted to these sites.

Another thing you want to be wary of is building a reputation on a particular forum. Unless, these people eventually become your customers, it may not be worth the time to establish your name. I look at most of the well known names on Warrior Forum and Digital Point Forum and it is obvious why someone would spend countless hours getting their post count up: They eventually want to start selling things to the other members, they are trying to establish a brand, or they are hoping to network with some of the other well known members. In any case, if you look deep enough, the motive is almost always money. It is the people that waste years on forums without any particular motive other than to be well known that really perplexes me. That time could be spent building your business instead.

That’s why I now limit the time I spend on these sites to just a few minutes in the morning and that’s it. It took a while to realize that I wasn’t going to miss anything earth shattering if I didn’t log in every hour or so.

Here are some of the main forums I use:

Warrior Forum – You can basically get your entire Internet Marketing education here. You will find a higher level of professionalism compared to most other forums. However, it may take a while to gain the trust of some members. Sometimes there is drama that you would be well advised to avoid.

Digital Point Forums – This forum has a bigger member base and generally has good information. Be aware that there are people on this forum that haven’t got a clue about internet marketing and you need to be careful about who you take advice from. Overall, It is a good place to start if you are new to internet marketing.

Wickedfire Forum – Crude, rude, and abusive towards newbs :) ). At least that is the first impression. Try signing up and introducing yourself on the main forum to get an idea of how brutal this experience can be. If you survive this and can “fit in,” there is a lot of good information to be had. My advice is to simply lurk for awhile before you decide if you want to subject yourself to that kind of humiliation. If you can’t take a hazing, don’t bother.

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