Get help and advice from communities

When running a business, it’s ideal to be able to bounce ideas off your peers and get those difficult questions answered. The good news is that you don’t have to hang around at a conference or other industry get-together to make this happen. It’s all at your fingertips in the form of online communities, also called forums or message boards.
These virtual communities are a revolution in networking, promotion and problem-solving. To join one that’s already established, most often you create a user profile that includes relevant business and personal information, upload a picture, and your online presence is ready. Anyone can see the topic threads, but it’s only those who have registered who can post messages.
It’s also possible to create your own, which can be a great marketing tool for your business and brand, if managed carefully. You could set up your own stand-alone community by buying a ready-made content management system and getting it linked into your website. For an easier option, create your own community on an established website like BT Tradespace and invite your contacts to join.
There are myriad communities online, ranging from more general discussion groups to very niche options. You’ll be able to judge whether it’s something you’re interested in by looking at the discussion topics, the number of times they’ve been viewed, and the responses posted.
If you’re new to communities, don’t be surprised if some of the responses can become a little spirited. Much like discussing politics round the dinner table, there are lots of different opinions being debated and a community’s the ideal place to thrash out issues without the risk of having a napkin thrown at you. There may also be a moderator in place to make sure any banter stays polite.
It’s worth being as concise as possible when posting a discussion topic, and phrasing questions carefully. As soon as someone has responded and the message thread begins, it can take on a life of its own. This is one of the real benefits of online communities; they facilitate discussion with a wide range of people who are all unified by a similar interest. The chances are, you’ll get ideas and inspirations you would never have considered before from people you might never have met.
If you’re new to this online world, BT Tradespace’s ‘The Lounge’ is an ideal place to start. It’s an informal community where members can introduce themselves, start discussions and flag up any issues they’re having trouble with. There’s also an ‘Ideas for BT Tradespace’ community, where members have the opportunity to put forward suggestions.