This is the first of several articles I intend to write on the efficient use of webmaster chatboards. This first installment is a minor re-write of a post I recently put on the YNOT Newbie board It addresses the feeling new webmasters often get that they are being ignored or are not part of the group.

So, without further ado . . .

There often seems to be a sense of confusion and misunderstandings on how the YNOT chat boards operate. I'd like to share the following with new webmasters in hopes of teaching you how to use the chat boards more effectively.

First allow me to point out that chat boards are, and will always be, what the users make of them. While the other resources listed at YNOT (and other webmaster resources) are open to plunder at your whim, chat boards, by their nature work a little different. Contrary to the desire of many new webmasters, they do not exist for the sole purpose of speeding your education or being your source for instant answers. The sooner you learn how to work within the medium, the sooner you'll find chat boards more useful. I encourage you to read what follows with an open mind and consider that maybe, just maybe there might be something to learn here.

Now, the inexperienced see friendly chatter as a waste of board space. They think that if it's not info they can immediately put to use, why bother. Those more experienced in the business understand that the chitchat and friendly good-mornings are just one other way to maintain the spirit of community with those you work with on a regular basis.

If you worked in an office you'd be considered rude if you never said good-morning to your co-workers. So why do you consider it so strange when it happens here online? When there are important issues to discuss, the regular board users discuss them to great length. But when they're not in some deep discussion, it doesn't mean they should stay silently isolated. Just as with a real group that work together, comments range from what's at the movies, what's going on in their lives, who's visiting who and who's celebrating what. To think this odd with a group of people just because that group happens to be online only shows that you haven't yet come to think of this medium as real. It's all part of coming to understand that there are real folks with real lives on the other side of that screen you're looking at. They are not single dimensional things whose job it is to promptly respond just because someone walks in and wants an answer to something.

I'd wager that few (if any) here would consider it the right thing to do to walk up to a group of strangers in a room and ask advice on how to run their business without so much as a hello, howdy-do or anything else. A person who does that is often perceived as selfish and a bit rude. So why does it happen so often on chat boards? For the most part, people on our chat boards are extremely friendly towards new webmasters. But remember, while this may be new to you, many more experienced webmasters have seen hundreds (if not thousands) of new webmasters come and go. They have developed something of a sense of detecting those that will be around a while and those that will be gone in a few months when they discover this is real work. History has shown us that generally, those that come on as selfish will not last because they'll never develop the networking skills required to be successful. Most veteran webmasters are also very turned off by anyone even implying that it's their job to answer any question posed. Again, a little civility goes a long way with these folks. I'm not saying kiss up, just be a little polite. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Ok, now let's move on to the ever-present cry of new webmasters which is, 'if you're not in the clique you're nothing' In a word, this thinking is WRONG. What you perceive as a clique are usually just conversations on shared experiences that you didn't happen to share. For example, much of the recent General board discussion was about the recent trade show. I didn't go to the show so I'm not 'up' on what happened. Do I feel left out? Hell no. I know that had I attended I would understand what they were talking about. Another example, you'll frequently see comments that are 'out takes' of the YNOTmasters Friday Albumside gathering. It's real easy to know what's going on with those, show up at Albumside on Friday some time and join in the fun. You'll get more of a feel for the kind of people the regulars are in those three hours than you will in a week of reading the board. As a bonus, the next time you see someone mention margaritas, you'll be in on the joke and can laugh along. It's good networking folks. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

Now, let's talk a bit about unanswered questions and the perception that you are being ignored when you post on the general board.

Keep in mind, the general board is not the place to ask for a site review. We do those on the YNOT Newbie board and when folks see you ask for one on the General or Private board, for the most part, they assume you're lost and posted on the wrong board.

Many of the questions I've seen that went unanswered can be directly attributed to two things. Attitude and the way the question was phrased. Here's an example, if you walked up to a group and asked if anyone knew a place where they gave away free Rolexes, would you be surprised if you didn't get an answer? Wouldn't you assume no one knew of such a place? Ok, so why when someone ask for a free host that doesn't put up banners on your site and let's you use cgi and whatever else you happen to be looking for, do you think you're being ignored with no answer. A simple line at the end of such a question, "or am I really looking for something that's not available?" would have likely received confirmation of that. Learn to ask good questions and you'll likely see better answers. Another thing to consider is that if you didn't get an answer, perhaps no-one that knew the answer happened in that day. Or perhaps they didn't see your question. Many webmasters just scan the boards and don't read every message posted.

There is one type of question that is seldom answered by experienced webmasters. That's a question about who's the best this or that. It could be about a sponsor, a host, a content provider or whatever. Either way, the experienced webmasters will know that there is no simple answer. Depending on what board you ask it on, the answer required could be considered a promotion and not be allowed. If you get any answer to that kind of question it will usually be by private email. Again, it's just a matter of how the question was phrased.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are any number of reasons that a particular post doesn't get the reply you would like. Don't assume the worst. Hang in there, keep reading and maybe ask it again at a later date.

Folks, I've been using chat boards since '84. I've monitored chat boards most of that time. I've run chat boards on a wide variety of subjects and can honestly say that the dynamics are much the same regardless of the subject. I can't tell you the countless times I've watched new comers say the same things I hear new adult webmasters say every day. Usually the reasons they feel that way are the same as what I just explained above.

There's a skill to using chat boards just like there's a skill to making web pages or good graphics. As it happens, in this business, it's a skill that can help you build your online business much quicker than you could without it. I encourage you to develop that skill at your earliest convenience. We at YNOT will continue to provide the tools but it's up to you to use them.

Utill next time ...

be well

- Khan