Newsgroup Marketing - build an expert status and gain more traffic. Newsgroup marketing is tricky, but done right this free strategy can be a gem.

1-2-3's of Internet Marketing
Getting You the Attention You Deserve

Newsgroups

Newsgroups can be a very effective marketing tool if utilized carefully, responsibly and wisely. Don't "spam" your advertisements in the newsgroups, don't be blatant about your advertising and always read the groups FAQ before posting.

Learn your newsgroups before posting. By reading the current articles, you'll get a feel for the mood of the newsgroup in general and an idea how to approach the group.

Read the newsgroup's FAQ for posting rules and regulations.

Post in newsgroups that are industry-related or that relate to your targeted market.

Post content articles that either respond directly to other posts in the group or that are issues that relate to the newsgroup. Include with all posts a signature line-- a simple two-line advertisement at the end of all posts with your sites URL.

**Create an excitement for your product/service.

Using an anonymous email address, post an article asking if anyone could recommend a good place to find "your" product/service.
Have a friend respond with your site as the best recommendation.
Have another [still creating a non-associated illusion] post that they too loved that site and speak of their experience with "your" product/service.
You, as the webmaster, can then go in and speak of your service/product using your real email address along with your signature.

**This is known as "dirty-trick" marketing and it is extremely effective, but not recommended. If you're caught in the act, there will be terrible retribution as a result.

Newsgroup abbreviations:
[Information obtained at Liszt's Usenet Newsgroups Directory]

alt - alternative

biz - business

comp - computer

news - news

misc - miscellaneous

rec - recreational

sci - science

soc - social issues

talk - talk

aus - Australian and Australasian

bit - BITNET [IBM mainframe]