There are thousands of newsgroups, blogs and forums online. They provide a fascinating and useful insight into the minds and methods of others who share our interests. They also act as an amazing resource for finding out almost anything you need to know.

Want your website critiqued? Ask at a forum or blog. Want to know how to salvage Outlook? Ask at a forum / blog. Want to know if a particular book is worth buying? Ask at a forum/ blog.

Almost anything is fair game - providing it is reasonably on topic. And dropping in to forums/ blog is a great way for newcomers to a field to rub shoulders with the old hands.

Wrong. That is the fastest way to oblivion.

Forums and blogs are not advertising notice boards. They are not like the pin board in the kitchen that anyone can put up a 'for sale' ad on.

Forums/ blogs are much more like the coffee machine or the water cooler. People hang out, swap ideas, chat for a while. They don't want someone popping up every five minutes trying to sell them something. They are trying to chill out.

So I figured I'd write those unwritten rules down.

The key to 'advertising' on forums, blogs and newsgroups is not to.

As soon as you put up a post that even looks remotely like an ad, you will usually either be removed by a moderator or flamed by incensed members.

Quite right. They didn't ask for your commercial break and they certainly don't appreciate your intrusion.

Then, the worst thing of all happens: your reputation is shot. Anyone in business should have a mind to the long term.

It is pointless to try to make money from one promotion - the real value of marketing is repeat business.