My Advice For Forum Newbies

Do you want your posts to remain on a forum, safe from the "delete" key of the moderators?

Then try this: Contribute something first.

When I first visit a forum, I always "lurk" for a bit, reading the posts and getting a feel for what's acceptable and what isn't.

After that, I'll make a few posts. The posts will either be legitimate questions or helpful responses to others. NONE OF THESE POSTS WILL HAVE ANY LINKS -- NOT EVEN IN MY SIGNATURE.

After I've made a few (4-5) posts, I'll start including a link in my signature (like the one below).

On boards where I've participated for a long time, I'll include an occasional affiliate link, but it will be pertinent to the topic being discussed (I'd never post an affiliate link in the initial post in a thread unless the board owner pre-approved it) and will be an obvious affiliate link, like the one below:

  [  This link (aff) is a website that offers access to several content sites for one price. It just might be the solution you're asking about.  ]

(NOTE TO MODS: This is the same link that's in my signature... I'm not trying to sneak an extra one in here... thanks...)

And if the mods nuke it, then that's a good indication that I shouldn't try again.

Almost everybody here is trying to make money on the Internet. That's no big secret. The "secret" to success on a forum like this one is to give without trying to take. Once you've shown your willingness to contribute and help, the occasional (that word should be BOLDED) helpful affiliate link just might be accepted.

Incidentally, there's no such thing as free advertising in forums. Almost every decent forum will abhor your attempts to market without first "paying" by contributing something of value.