Writing at Forums

August 4, 2007

I love a good forum. I like collaborating with other writers and marketers. I love helping other people achieve and being helped by others in return. I’d chalk up the biggest boost in my writing business to networking in forums.

The most important thing if you’re presenting yourself as a writer in a forum is to prove it! Some people think that your posts in a forum should be evaluated apart from your actual writing. But people remember when you misspell words, have bad grammar or can’t string two thoughts together.

It’s kind of unfair, I know. Web designers and coders don’t have the same pressure to write well in a casual environment. But think of every post that you make as an audition. You don’t have to be overly formal. Just remember to use spellcheck and re-read your thoughts before you hit “post message.”

In the same spirit, think about what you write just as much as how you write. You’re presenting yourself in public. If you post frequently about having trouble meeting deadlines, or annoying clients or being frustrated with writing, then you’re not doing yourself any favors. The same goes for getting in arguments and heated debates with other forum members. We all have a right to our opinions, but there’s a time and a place for everything. When you’re trying to build relationships with potential clients, either say your piece and move on, or just keep your opinion to yourself.

Of course, these rules only apply to forums where you want to network for writing jobs. We all deserve to vent, commiserate and ask for advice. Find a good writing forum for support, and then post in internet marketing forums to find leads.

Posted in Client Relations, Marketing