Some discussion group dos and don'ts

It's easy to gain visibility in a discussion group by posting messages to it, but if you want to gain credibility and attract business, be careful to provide solid, useful information with each posting.

Do describe your subject with a clear subject line.

Don't post advertisements unless you want to attract flames and hate mail.

Do express your opinion about existing message topics, if you have something new to say.

Don't argue for the sake of argument.

Do think about the length, format, and content of your messages. Before you post a message read it and evaluate it for brevity and clarity.

Don't belabor the obvious or diverge into unrelated topics.

Do share information resources with the group.

Don't post long articles. You can post an excerpt and point people to the full text.

Do start topics of discussion. If you can formulate a topic that showcases your area of expertise, bring it up.

Don't try to disguise an advertisement as a new discussion topic.

Do invite private e-mail exchanges.