ONLINE FORUMS: MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND BUSINESS CONTACTS WHILE YOU LEARN
The net is a great place to find information on just about any subject. You can also use the net to socialize with people around the world. Online forums provide a vehicle where you can do both at the same time, with the added bonus of making some valuable new business contacts.
Researching a subject on your own can be time-consuming and lacks the social interaction aspect of the online forum. Depending on your topic, the voice of experience can enhance your own knowledge much more quickly than a dry, scholastic article you might read. For example, let's say you've recently started dabbling with painting. Although you enjoy painting, you don't know much about it. Search out some online forums for artists. You can lurk as a guest, checking out what members of a forum have to say. If one doesn't match your interests, move on. You'll soon find one with lively conversation and a mix of visitors more to your taste and style. Look for forums with a number of categories and an active membership. When you find one that satisfies you, register as a member so you can post to the site.
You can learn much on your subject matter if you only read the postings on these active online forums. However, you'll learn much more by contributing your own thoughts and asking questions of other members. Most people are pleased to share their knowledge with you. You can learn tricks of the trade from practicing painters that you may never find in a book. You'll soon find at least several people with whom you develop a rapport, fun to talk with, interesting and with good ideas and information you can use. This sort of interaction can serve as inspiration, sending you off to paint your next project with enthusiasm.
Online forums are good places to meet people from every walk of life and who share interests in common. Perhaps you'll meet a painting teacher, or another artist who has shown his work professionally. These people can be good business contacts in the future.
Once you've been a member for a while, online forums can be a bit like a social club too. You'll find that you look forward to spending an hour or two online, chatting with friends and learning new and exciting info on your chosen topic. Soon you'll have enough knowledge to have thoughtful discussions on some of the finer points. What type of brush is best to get a certain effect? How about color mixing? The exchange of ideas benefits all.
No matter what topic interests you, online forums are great virtual classrooms. Unlike formal classrooms, you're free to chat as much as you like. Give them a try. Online forums can be so much fun they might be positively addictive!
