Internet Marketing Forums are Counterproductive!
December 29th, 2008 | 57 comments
Years ago I spent a great deal of time in Internet Marketing Forums each and every day. I even wrote a blog post about the benefits of participating in them a little over a year ago, which shows up as the most popular post on this blog… you can see that in the right sidebar.
All of the points I stated in that post are indeed true, except one, which I must have written when I was half asleep (#6) it was “knowledge” and boy was I wrong!!
With time and experience comes knowledge of what’s true and what’s false and after marketing online for over 4 years now, it amazes me how much false information is spit out in Internet Marketing forums like the Warrior Forum.
Most of this crap is provided by “forum guru’s.” Please understand there is a BIG difference between a forum guru and a knowledgeable guru! Forum gurus are those who you’ve NEVER heard of outside of the forum! It’s the guy who has thousands of posts and seems to have an answer for everything. You look at his links in his signature and you wonder how he makes any money with these crappy sites. Most likely he doesn’t!
Is everyone at the Warrior Forum and other forums full of crap? Of course not, but a good deal of them are!
9 out of 10 times those who go out of their way to answer your questions and give advice in forums are 1 of 3 things:
1. A newbie making little to no money trying to make a name for him or herself “fake it till you make it” telling you crap that sounds good, but they have no idea whether it’s true or not!
2. Someone who’s been at it for years, but has yet to make a full-time income online, so they hang out at forums giving old, regurgitated advice that they’ve never put into practice themselves!
3. Someone who is trying to increase their post count, so people will think they’ve been around a while and so they can make more sales when they release their next worthless report in the Warrior Special Offers forum, or similar marketplace in other forums.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a bunch of really good people just trying to learn the ropes and make it. Unfortunately there are also many people who haven’t been able to make it and cause those who are trying to make a legitimate extra income to waste time and money concentrating on things they shouldn’t be concentrating on!
You’ll notice I do have somewhere around 3,000 posts in the Warrior Forum and hundreds in other forums as well. That’s because they are an excellent way to help build your brand and build your list! Unfortunately there are very few legitimate marketers out there giving solid advice in forums like I do.
My advice is this: Participate in Internet Marketing Forums for the branding, link building and list building aspects, but be VERY selective of who you accept information from whether it’s free or paid! Get your advice from a trusted source and if you’re going to use forums for information join a legitimate forum where your time and money will not be wasted!
If the forum you’re in is the only place you’ve ever heard of this person, there’s probably a good reason why! If the sites the person links to in his or her signature looks like something a 12 yo created, there’s probably a reason why! I could go on and on, but believe me when I say, if you’re not very selective of who you accept information from, Internet Marketing Forums can be VERY counterproductive!
img credit: phauly
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29th December, 2008 at 9:56 pm
One thing that you forgot to mention is that there are also a lot of people in these forums that are just plain nasty. That is why I don’t hang out on public forums much any more.
I remember all to well when I got started. Your coaching forum is everything that Warrior should strive for.
Regards,
Mark
29th December, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Hi Josh,
I agree entirely. I would rate the warrior forum without doubt as the best of all, and they are incredibly helpful people there…you just have to learn how to read the posts that count, and find the quality people there and forget the rest. Even the warrior special offer forum was spammed the other day….
Love the look of you blog by the way Josh.
Colleen
29th December, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Good post, Josh.
Mark is right about a lot of nasty people in forums. You get to see that in the Warrior Forum every day.
Personally, I spend most of my time in 2 private forums where there is a cooperative and tolerant environment.
Cheers,
Josip
29th December, 2008 at 10:17 pm
what, you mean just because the guy has 3500 posts and a high karma ranking (where people vote him up) he is not an expert? LOL
I am on a mailing list of a guy who is always trying to sell some lame ebook on the warrior forum. It’s like every other day I get an email from him: “Timmons, the doors are closing on the Warrior forums special”
I send him a reply the other day: “dude, close them doors already will ya?!?”
LOL
-coach
29th December, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m a do-it-yourselfer, bricoleur, handyman – what you will, and the same is true of building advice sites. If you’re looking for advice, sometimes you’d better go armed with the right answer beforehand. What bullshitters (can I use that word in this forum ?)
Which reminds me of an ex-work colleague, who consulted everybody she could think of until she came across someone who agreed with her – and then she went ahead and did what she was going to do anyway.
29th December, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Hi Josh,
It comes down to proof and reputation.
When one can substantiate claims with proof then a reputation is developed.
When one has a reputation to maintain then contributions are normally of value and reliable.
Only by evaluating both the post and the person behind it can a reasonable decision be made regarding its reliability. It also pays to compare the post with others, not so much to get the majority opinion on something but rather to look for factors you may not of been aware of.
Ray
29th December, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Good advice, Josh.
It really gets my goat when I read the bad advice and even outright intentionally misleading advice posted on many forums these days.
I’ve been making my entire living from the Net since 2000. My main business is web consulting and network development for traffic generation. So, I have to know what works and what doesn’t, and keep up with the lastest trends.
Over the years I’ve developed the ability to spot an imposter, or an outright liar pretty fast. And surprising as it may sound, even some well-known ‘gurus’ have done their share of spewing misleading information.
But in my opinion, an even bigger risk with forums – for newbies and experienced alike – is spending way to much time ON them instead of sticking to a work schedule and actually DOING the necessary chores to build, grow, and promote an online business. Forums can be just another form of distraction or ‘analysis paralysis’ that keeps us from actively DOING.
Deb
29th December, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Hey Josh, I have to agree with you that forums have become full of trolls and guru “wanabes”. I think it is the success of the Warrior forum that has had the unfortunate consequence of attracting those types. Plenty of newbies get suckered in. Well, look at the bright side, you may have been half asleep on your previous forum post, but now you are wide-eyed awake:)
Best regards.
Stew
29th December, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Like anything in life you have to absorb and process information in a intelligent methodical way. The people who get bad advice are the ones who blindly follow and never think for themselves.
29th December, 2008 at 11:12 pm
How funny that your post comes just as I’m listing another Warrior Forum WSO (which is full of value, I swear!)
I agree that you can’t be fooled by the number of posts or the amount of good-old-boy slap my back and I’ll slap yours that goes on there, but I do find the WF good for branding myself.
I think when you’re new you believe everything you read there, then after awhile you learn to sift through the bad to find the great gems of information.
Peggy
29th December, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Warrior Forum sucks. So much BS there, you better bring a shovel. If you must go there, ignore Steve Wag. He’s one of the biggest posers there, and has the most posts to prove it, lol.
29th December, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I agree man…you have to “eat the meat and throw out the bones” because everyone tries to play the expert role.
I’ll admit, I don’t have many “miles” in at the warrior forum or many others…there are a select few I do participate in, and they are usually more focused on what I am trying to learn about.
Forums can be a great resource, but like you said, one has to be careful not to believe everything they read.
29th December, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I tried that, of course, but didn’t have any understanding of what in the world it was all about. I didn’t really have anything of value to contribute.
Fortunately, I ended up finding a good training program and left the forums alone for a good six months or so until I learned something and had something of value to add.
Now, I do go and contribute to a couple of forums for a few reasons.
1. Branding and link building as you mentioned.
2. Promotion of affiliate programs I deem to be valuable.
3. Genuine desire to help others who were starting off like me in a complete fog of confusion and frustration.
The only forum that I really learn a lot from is Sitesell’s private forum for SBI members.
I think the reason it is so valuable is because it has zero tolerance for affiliate promotion. As a result, the atmosphere is amazing in that everyone is genuinely there to help or be helped.
It’s where I go whenever I’m ‘stuck’ or even if I’m thinking of ‘trying’ something new and want some honest opinions where no one has a vested interest.
Bottom line – I guess it depends on the forum.
Ray’s right about evaluating the posts and the poster to determine the validity of their comments.
Trouble is, many people (‘newbies’) don’t have the tools of knowledge to do a proper evaluation until after they’ve fallen victim to their fair share of bad advice.
Just my thoughts.
29th December, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Josh, I’ve yet to post in the WF but read a lot of the threads there. Going into a place like that armed with all the knowledge I’ve gained from your coaching forum has certainly helped me spot some of the ‘forum gurus’ and the crap they post. p;)
Thanks for the advice on branding etc, they’re great tips and very timely for me.
29th December, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I agree completely with your sentiments. Those 3 things really annoy me – so-called gurus, wanna-be gurus, and washed up gurus. And, if I can add a fourth, it would be the incessant emails some of them send (over and over and over and over) saying basically the same thing each time: This “new” product is the best thing since sliced bread. Bah, humbug.
29th December, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Great post, Josh!
You said -
“be VERY selective of who you accept information from whether it’s free or paid! ”
I completely agree with that. As someone who also helps folks learn how to make money online, I find it so frustrating trying to UN-do the things that are said on public forums.
Just because you read it online does NOT mean it is accurate. When in doubt, test it for yourself.
As a side note – something that always makes me giggle in public forums is those that make a post begging someone to teach them how to make money online because they haven’t made a dime…. and then they have a signature line that follows their post with a link that says “How I Make $500 a Day – Click Here!”
Too funny!
Hope you have a Happy New Year! Keep up the great HONEST work!
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
29th December, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Hi Josh,
Thanks for this.
I’m left with a couple of questions. Which forums do you think are the good ones? and Is there a way to sort out the good from the bad advice?
30th December, 2008 at 12:30 am
Josh,
You are right and it’s not just IM forums.
Just yesterday, I was on an Oracle forum, and a poster who had 100′s of post was giving out a blatantly wrong solution. It was just plain stupid.
Even hanging out at the wrong forums can prove to be very costly.
30th December, 2008 at 12:33 am
Josh, you’ve got to stop posting these politically incorrect (and accurate) remarks
All they do is create more knowledgeable customers. You don’t want that do you?
30th December, 2008 at 12:51 am
Hi Josh,
It has been quite sometimes I have not post at warrior forum. It is a great forum but I just find that it make me inefficient when I spent time reading the post in the forum.
That just my experience.
30th December, 2008 at 2:12 am
Hey Josh,
I spent a lot of reading your blog post and this is my first time making a quick comment…my bad
But your absoultuely right, I used to do the same thing when I started online, thinking that I would find all the shortcuts in the forums from people that already tried certain tactics.
Actually internet marketing is all about DOING and finding out what works for yourself.
Sorry for the rant, But this is a good posts!
Get out the forums, TAKE ACTION people!
30th December, 2008 at 3:22 am
The information you provide as well as the comments are insightful. I want to express one exception. It appears your comments are focused on information sites, which I understand where the money is, but if you are selling a product, as I do, appropriate forums, can be of immense help in building identity. Thank all of you for your input: It is appreciated. John Mauldin
30th December, 2008 at 5:20 am
Hey Josh,
You left out another reason why people post on the forums…to try to not only legitimize themselves as credible but to sell stuff to the people asking the questions. Anyhoo….off to the forums to post (jk)…
PS>….Go Titans!
30th December, 2008 at 5:54 am
Hi Josh,
I used to spend a lot of time on forums, especially on warrior forum, but not as much anymore.
In fact, I haven’t posted and visited there for quite a while now.
Why? Because of the reasons you mentioned above, and also because of time constraint. Once I was there, I could spend hours after hours just reading posts that (may not help me afterall), and simply get sidetracked.
Anyway nice post!
Cheers,
Welly Mulia
30th December, 2008 at 6:00 am
Hi Josh,
I believe that you are spot-on with your comments here. I would probably include just about every forum on the internet, as most people have been taught (myself included) to use forums to promote their sites. Admittedly, they have been advised to write good quality comments, but what happens if you don’t have anything good to write? Yes, you just write whateveer comes into your head – in as good a form as possible, so that it looks like good information that people will believe is true.
Thanks for the good post.
Barry
30th December, 2008 at 6:10 am
Josh, It’s been sometime since I’ve posted anything so far but this has been a really great and constant reminder for not just myself but for anyone who is new to the Internet.
I started the very same way in WF and thought they were really all big players but slowly and surely through experience and by following some of your advice, things began to become crystal clear about who’s who.
You gotta be really careful about who you take advice from because more often than not… successful people get success outside the forums where they are doing the things necessary to bring in the income and bring value to others in their own niche.
Happy new Year, Buddy!
See ya in the forums
Vern
30th December, 2008 at 7:19 am
enlightening — indeed, the information available on the web are not 100% reliable, especially if we don’t know where to look for.. i’d regularly visit this site.. thanks!
30th December, 2008 at 7:37 am
I came to forums fairly late in my I.M. career and perhaps my experience of them even now is not extensive.
I think every newbie is going to have some difficult times – I did when I bought junk products and programs during my first year.
That left me feeling bruised and a little cynical and if I’d had similar experiences in a forum I’d be “anti forum”.
Now that I know what I’m doing I see lots of people getting advice in the forums and like anything in life – it’s a mixed experience.
Like Jennifer ~PotPieGirl I too find it hysterical that people with wild sounding “sig files” are not making any real money.!
All The Best Josh
Alex
30th December, 2008 at 7:49 am
Well Josh,
That counts for guru’s just the same, not just forum guru’s.
Especially with the big names, you always have to be very careful with what to believe and why somebody’s saying something.
Also..many guru’s have a lifespan. Just because they were on the ball last year, does not necessarily mean they’re sharp in the future as well.
I still find the WF one of the best forums around, and I got some excellent information for free. Complete blueprints that work. But you have to weed of course..
Just like with the normal guru’s. I really like Frank Kern for instance, but I definitely don’t take all his emails seriously.
Cheers,
& much happinez to all of you,
JanPaul
30th December, 2008 at 8:30 am
Josh
Good solid advice as always. With any of these things one should look for the value to you and what you are doing.
Yes forums have a role to play in helping you to generate interest in you and what you are doing. However, you should be cautious of those who seem to exist only in the confines of the forum and who seem to take their interactions with others in the forums more seriously than is good for them or indeed you!
Take care
Paul
30th December, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hi Josh,
Interesting post mate.
Quite right about not believing the hype and rubbish that you come across in these forums.
However, the signature links at the end of their comments are worth studying.
The ‘successful’ marketers understand the importance of a well written signature and the corresponding link.
Search for the popular ‘gurus’ and check out their signature links.
There are some useful tips to be had.
A good signature file at the end of your posts is worth an hour or 2 of your time to get right,
~ Peter Tremayne
30th December, 2008 at 9:03 am
While I do see quite a bit of BS on some forums… not all of it is BS. There a few folks that legitimately try to help people out on those forums. To help them learn from their own mistakes.
However, there are always those nasty people that were mentioned earlier that come in and basically hijack a “i’m trying to help you” thread and turn it into a “flamer” thread.
Member moderated forums are good… but member moderated + paid moderators would be better. Maybe that would eliminate the BS.
There is however no perfect solution to providing good content via a forum unless it is run entirely by experts and contains extremely limited user content. Take away the signature links and the advertisements, and then you would have quality content.
That I am afraid will never happen. Otherwise people would be paying a monthly fee for access to that forum. Quality comes at a price.
Dennis
30th December, 2008 at 9:06 am
One more thing… not only do those nasty people hijack these threads… but they also conduct themselves in such a rude and negative manor, it makes one not want to be part of that forum.
Lack of adequate moderation is what causes problems like that on forums.
Dennis
30th December, 2008 at 10:49 am
I agree you have to be careful of some of the very high post count warriors.
Post counts mean nothing.
There are some high high posters who spend so much time in there they can’ possible be running a profitable business.
The other thing that sucks – the negative trolls who seem to be able to slag off whomever and whatever they like without recourse hiding behind fake names.
They are so negative there is is no way they are ever going to make a dime online because their heads are so screwed over.
There is s lot of CRAP posted on forums – that is why the ‘everything you want on line should be FREE’ mindset is SO wrong.
Paid products make authors more accountable and often the information is substantially better than forum advice.
There are of course 10% of people in forums who are there to build links, garner relationships, make some legitimate sales and help others.
James
30th December, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Hi Josh,
Nice post as usual
But you missed one thing, Warrior Forum is a good forum to make money too.
Just with $20, right product offer, nice and entertaining sales letter, you can get a bunch of money
Just look at how many people buy those $5 per piece article or PLR articles pack on hot niches.
Hendra
30th December, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I am new to Warrior, and it brought me here as I am looking for some useful Internet marketing posts to read.
I have been posting at DP, SP, and others; and I noticed the same problem at WF – some posts are crap. Not to mention the PMs about “making money online” products they offer. I think we cannot avoid them anyway.
If I find posts that I think can be useful for me, I rarely check the signature of the thread starter. Instead, I analyze the post content and tried it on my blogs.
On the other hand, I think it is inevitable that we don’t receive negative feedback especially in my case that I use my 2-week old blog on my signature.
As long as I sincerely help fellow members, and my tips are proven effective, I am just glad that I am being useful. We cannot please everybody, anyway.
I accepted the fact that the transition from a blogger to an IM is a not an easy task.
30th December, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Hello Josh,
One of my BS checkers is I always have alexa website ranking up and I drop in the address of the website of the poster.
Makes me think of a new line. Those who can, build those who can’t Post.
Is he poster or poser.
I like your blog.
Rick
30th December, 2008 at 4:36 pm
It’s like that in all niches. Newbies with no results but lots of reading under their belt pose for gurus.
30th December, 2008 at 5:51 pm
i’m actually not an “Internet Marketer.” At least not in the sense of selling “How to get rich on the Internet” products.
However, i own a small Online Marketing firm that specializes in creating online marketing campaigns for small to mid-size businesses.
I use products and ideas from people like Josh and a very few others who actually know what they are talking about from real experience.
I avoid these Internet Marketing forums like the plague although I use Forum Marketing for clients on specialized forums related to their product or service.
The one thing I’ve learned about all the Internet Marketing “information” being pandered about is that you have to try it yourself to see if it works before you try to use it for clients.
What I’ve learned on Internet Marketing sites, forums, blogs and products has helped me get way ahead of other marketing firms who are absolutely clueless about what works on the Internet.
I’ve used the knowledge to build my business and my client’s businesses. Find a few people like Josh who got where they are the right way and let you know how they did it. Then test their ideas for yourself.
You don’t need to lie, cheat, or spam to get quality links and traffic on the Internet. You just have to test, test, and test some more. Keep constantly learning and constantly trying new things. And you can make money on the Internet.
30th December, 2008 at 6:49 pm
That is one thing that I find to be the most hilarious. People giving advice about SEO, when they don’t even have a ranked site themselves. Absolutely hilarious.
30th December, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Dennis is right. I have a guy who does all the SEO for my clients. He does all the research and calculations and I write the copy.
Anyway, he’s been struggling trying to find someone to help with the workload because he’s swamped. (The curse of success!)
When any firm contacts him about helping with SEO, the first thing he does is run stats on their website. Needless to say, he’s still looking for someone competent enough to work with him.
30th December, 2008 at 9:21 pm
You really have to prove your worth… especially in the current economy. Companies need to make every dollar count and they aren’t going to risk that dollar on an SEO expert that has a website that is only PR2… or is not listed anywhere near the first page results.
31st December, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I think much of the popularity of forums has to do with social starvation…folks who are tired of just sitting and working in front of a computer monitor and who long for a little human contact. To the degree that there is some satisfaction given, that seems legitimate enough.
I wouldn’t want to go to a forum for solutions. In 10 years of being and working online, I’ve never found anyone who approaches things in the way I do in terms of online focus…and in fact, I’ve only found a few people doing things in a way that I found interesting, much less particularly respectable. Almost everything I run across seems like another warmed-over version of something that someone else is doing already. Mostly, forum posts seems to be an excuse for posing, chest-beating and hot air.
And frankly, I would never share anything particularly valuable in a forum. I don’t find most people trustworthy. The minute someone reveals true success on some level, the game begins to pry from them information that someone else can use to steal a piece of their pie. I find that very disappointing.
Occasionally, though, a friendship/relationship emerges from a forum. And that’s something that I believe can have legitimate lasting value.
31st December, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I agree with Chuck that a lot of the people hanging out in the ‘make money online’ forums are probably lonely and tired of sitting in front of a computer at home. And the rest are preying on them.
But my wife lives and dies by forums. every time she gets an error message from a piece of software, she copies it and Google’s it. Invariably, she winds up on a forum.
Real forums are great for getting real information. The ‘make money online’ or ‘get rich quick’ forums are just there to sell junk to newbies. (Not that I’m opinionated, mind you).
31st December, 2008 at 6:49 pm
@Chuck
That is just how it is on any type of forum centered around business. My big ideas I definitely wouldn’t post about on a forum. I know there are trolls there looking to steal and exploit business models or ideas. I will however, try help those just getting started with the basics.
As long as the SBDC has been around (don’t know for a fact) I bet they don’t have a single course on WordPress or Search Engine Marketing or Auto Responders. These topics I consider to be some of the basics of doing business online.
@Bob
Google is a very, very powerful tool. Your wife is very wise to be using it to find the solution to her problem. Strength in numbers.
You take your computer to get fixed. Do you honestly think the people working on them know every single type of software error and every single type of virus there is? For viruses alone, there are millions of those. Software errors can be kind of common, but the root cause of the problem has millions of variables involved.
Granted most issues a tech will instantly know what to do… but sometimes they do exactly what your wife does. Take it to Google. Because locally there may not be anyone that has ever heard of the problem, but when you expand that locality to the entire United States or the entire World, then there are quite a few people that have had exactly the problem you have had.
These real forums you talk about have the same exact problems WF and DP have. They are just different. These tech forums for example have the people giving good advice to help others.
Then there are those that couldn’t fix a computer to save their life… giving terrible advice to others on the forum. This can lead to data loss, ruined hardware, etc. On top of that, there are still folks on there just looking to make a buck. So they really aren’t that different.
31st December, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Well-spoken, Dennis.
And, in the interest of full disclosure (and because I completely blanked out when commenting earlier), I am a frequent user of the DP forum. I don’t particularly love it, and I think the moderation practices are a bit odd, but it’s an excellent resource for certain kinds of service providers.
31st December, 2008 at 8:47 pm
@ Mark – Yeah that’s true… Many aggressive people in there… many times they’re wrong about what they’re so passionate about unfortunately.
@ Colleen – Finding the quality people and forgetting the rest is the key there. Unfortunately many people don’t know what’s right and wrong… that’s where the problem arises.
@ Timmons – Yep, I know it’s hard to believe
@ Instant – The thing is, everyone starts somewhere and those just getting started don’t know right from wrong. btw, please read my comment policy.
@ Peggy – True, it has it’s branding benefits.
@ Jimmy – lol To prevent a cease and desist for slander I’ll just say “no comment”
@ Angie – Alot of good points there. Sounds like you’re one of the smart ones
@ Michelle – And I believe you know the #1 shark, so you’re good to go. See you in the forum!
@ Jennifer – yeah that’s one of the best, and most frequent, examples of hypocrisy in forums. I guess they just don’t think, or don’t care?
@ Evan – http://www.CoachingWithJosh.com/ no need to sort
@ Jim – I know it, I’ll keep tha tin mind lol
@ Dontrell – Glad to see you, you should post more often, would love to hear from you. Very true, taking action and learning from your mistakes is what it’s all about.
@ John – Yep, that’s why I mentioned “Branding” as being a benefit.
@ Leo – booo (*cough* shutout?)
go Colts!
@ JanPaul – Good point, the misinformation comes from newbies and pros alike.
@ Hendra – That’s the problem right there!
@ Chuck, Bob and Dennis – Alot of good points there. I believe there are many forums in many niches that have several benefits. My point is simply that if you’re not careful, or possibly more importantly, if you’re not knowledgeable enough to know better, you may find yourself taking action on false advice.
1st January, 2009 at 12:21 am
@Josh
I keep forgetting to comment on your choice of picture for the post, the doctor smoking. A clear picture of what they used to have on TV commercials in the 50′s. It paints a very vivid picture of what you were talking about in the post… at least for the people who know what those commercials were like.
2nd January, 2009 at 10:48 am
Good read. There is a time and place for everything though. I wasted countless hours as well reading about internet marketing but every once in awhile you’ll come upon a golden nugget in the rocks..someone will post something useful and that’s when you expand upon it and make it your own.
2nd January, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Hanging out in forums can have their advantages and disadvantages.
What I like about it is the fact that I get to meet people and discuss stuff about internet marketing that I do not know about. In WF, people are very helpful. But at some point, especially lately, it has been polluted and corrupted by newbies who wants a get-rich quick ticket to online business and who obviously spams the forums.
For whatever it’s worth, forums are interactive and you can somehow learn from it.
3rd January, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I’m registered there, but never been active … I think … maybe have a couple of posts. Never really liked the “autmosphere” over there, when “lurking around” WF
Hiding behind a forum is easy, and I deal with this as forumowner myself in the swedish dog niche. A lot of “experts” giving stupid tips mixed up with really god tips from the swedish elite / pro dogtrainers
3rd January, 2009 at 3:16 pm
You are right, Josh. There are many Internet Marketing forums out there that are just nothing but waste of time, but there are still a few that are worth it. Thanks for sharing.
3rd January, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I have wasted way too much lurking on Forums. Now my time spent on forums is looking up a specific subject or promoting something of my own. This goes for the couple of private forums I am involved in also.
Greatpost Josh
Rick
4th January, 2009 at 9:38 am
The Warrior Forum has been good for the most part to me. But I’ve noticed a pattern of nastiness for no reason in most cases and it has frankly begun to be a turn off. And some members being banned for reasons I deem unfair. I don’t know what it is with too many members there who feel because they have a high post count can call people out. Then you have some of these same Warrior buddies who keep quiet or jump on the bandwagon of attack,especially when their wrong. And whatever these folks speak it has to be “Gospel”—not in my bible.
Personally, if a friend does wrong I will not side with them. Instead disagree with them respectfully or pull them to the side to express my disagreement. To me that’s the kind friend I cherish.
I also agree with Peggy B. when she says:
“… you can’t be fooled by the number of posts or the amount of good-old-boy slap my back and I’ll slap yours that goes on there, but I do find the WF good for branding myself.”
Granted some folks who come in there needs to get the heave ho for blatantly violating the rules…although the rules are not always as clear. But also doesn’t seem to be a level of fairness and equity across the board within the forum.
I just might try your forum Josh.
A thought provoking post!
5th January, 2009 at 6:24 am
Agree with you here, Josh. We can waste a lot of time on forums if we don’t learn to be discerning. Luckily it is quite easy to spot the folks who are not making a real contribution.
6th January, 2009 at 9:37 am
Hi Josh,
I agree you do have to be careful about some of the information available on forums and not take it as gospel, but I’d say that goes for most kinds of online and offline media. You learn to trust certain sources over time.
If you just want people’s opinions on an idea or product for example, they can be worthwhile for that, as long as you remember it is just an opinion.
Cheers,
Carl.
24th January, 2009 at 3:03 am
Forums are counterproductive only if you do not know your objectives. But I admit it is easily to forget yours when you start blabbing away
If you are looking to brand yourself, make sure you show your expertise. Not to be boastful but helpful. Be there to answer the newbie’s’ questions.
You could also reply with a creative and unique solution to a problem-based thread with a highest view.
At the end of the day, you could turn your own discussion into articles or posting. They are of the highest quality because they are answers to real problems.
Now it is getting more productive isn’t it.
For me, the best thing about forum is researching on the IM products. I really find them to be genuine unlike most blogs. They are harder to manipulate in a “free for all†environment.
Oh….I wanted to reply directly to Prepaid Cell Phone Guy comment but I can’t.
Regarding checking Alexa Ranking for authenticity, it is not a sure thing.
4 figures alexa ranking? Yes that is a great site. 5 figures I am not sure.
I can easily boost my alexa ranking to 5 figures in a month without any single visitors. I did that a few times for 2 of my sites years ago.
Just keep plugging in your website in multiple traffic surfing sites. Your alexa ranking can really soared. A few extra “refresh†keeps your alexa ranking high !
Disclaimer : It may not work now though if Alexa have changed their formula