I am constantly seeing articles and blog posts from internet marketers touting the discovery of being friendly online for sales. Advice on how to join a community and be active, for sales. Or simply not being rude, for sales. Why is this news?

There are huge numbers of us that have been, and continue to be, active members of all sorts of online communities, not just because we happen to get a few sales, and maybe a few links, but because we actually enjoy hanging out with the people there. I’m an active member of several online jewelry communities. (Bangles and Brides - Better than Diamond - etc.) I’m actually friends with quite a few people there. And as a nice side effect, some of them actually buy jewelry from me.

But I didn’t go in there hoping to sell them something. I went in there to share what I know, and talk about something that I enjoy doing. To do otherwise is simply using those people to try to make a buck. And, big surprise here, it’s easy to spot when it does happen. I don’t care how subtle you think you are, when you come in to a community with the intent of whoring yourself or your product, it is spotted and the hidden part of the community sees you for what you are, a common shill. And just about any chance you had of selling your product is reduced to almost nothing.

And believe me, we do talk about you and spread the word.

So if you want to join a community, do it. But do it for the right reasons. Go in with the intent to share your knowledge and help others. To share your experiences and your hobbies. Not to try to separate the members from their cash, or their linkjuice. It just makes you a dirty whore.