Newsgroups Can Boost Your Traffic featured newsgroup portals and services >>> Newsgroups have been a part of the internet since a time near its inception. With the web a medium initially dedicated to the unobstructed sharing of information, these open, topical discussion areas became a consistent and popular form of exchange. As the popularity of the internet grew, so did the number of news and discussion groups. Today, there are literally thousands of individual groups, moderated by those dedicated to a specific topic, intended to provide a place for continued sharing on a subject of interest. With the general increase in popularity experienced by the internet, newsgroup populations also began to soar. With this growth came the need for rules intended to govern newsgroup users everywhere, maintaining an efficient, respectful, and information oriented environment, not overun by abusive individuals, or marketing crazed online business operators. One of the primary rules established by most newsgroup areas is the refusal to accept purely commercial postings. This does not leave the business operator out in the cold in these areas. It simply defines your role as a contributor first, business operator second. In most newsgroup areas, a signature file denoting your business name and/or location is considered appropriate, as long as the intent of the message posting is to respond to, or generate conversation on a topic related to the newsgroup’s overall purpose. Utilizing these areas of topical sharing can provide a means for you to establish yourself as an expert within your field of specialization. If done correctly, and within the parameters set by the newgroup founders and/or moderators, this tool can serve to bring substantial increases in site awareness and visitation. There are innumerable newsgroup locations across the web. Discussion groups today can incorporate site based posting of commentary, or email exchange lists focused on a topic of interest. Finding the most popular, heavily trafficked groups within specific areas of interest can take some investigation. In the end, spending the time to locate, then effectively participate in these groups will prove to be a worthwhile effort. The newsgroup portals listed below should be of assistance in beginning your research in this area. Usenet.com Google Groups Yahoo Groups Topica.com Related Subjects: Internet Marketing – Pay Per Click Engines Web Site Promotion Through Partnerships back to top