Discussion Groups

Are you involved in these on-line discussion groups?  You can find a discussion group on just about any topic you want, Health, Business, Networking, and thousands more.

But are they useful?

I am a member of two discussion groups; the one on marketing is pretty much dead.  When I first joined the group some years back it was lively and full of solid discussion, but no one has made a post or asked a question in weeks. 

It has become uninteresting and useless, but I will stay a member for two reasons.  First, with no activity it isn’t filling up my In Box and thus isn’t a nuisance.

Second, there were a lot of business owners and marketing managers on there, so it is my target audience—even if they are as quite as a church mouse right now.

The other discussion group is focused on networking, (the human-to-human kind), particularly networking on www.linkedin.com.

In recent weeks this discussion group seems to have drifted farther and farther off course.  Recent discussion subject lines have included:  “Project Tuesday”, “I Need Money”, and “What is Your Twitter Name?”. 

At least that last one did relate to networking.

But discussion groups, like business relationships sometimes need to be cut loose when it no longer serves any significant purpose.

Sometimes you can get a discussion group back on track or re-energized, but not always.  Sometimes it is simply better to find another discussion group to be involved in.  One where:

· there is consistent activity

· Posts are (for the most part) on-topic

· You feel comfortable actively participating in the group

· The group adequately satisfies your needs.

Now that last one can have a host of meanings.  Your “need” may be to have exposure to discussion makers, such as in my marketing discussion group; or it could be a source of useful information; or it could satisfy some other personal or business need you might have.

Regardless, if the discussion group doesn’t do something for you, then what is the point of being there?

Why be anywhere if it isn’t productive in some form or fashion for you. 

And “productive” includes entertaining, relaxing, enjoyment, and etc, not just professionally productive.

Discussion groups can be wonderful sources of fun, information, and business.  They can also eat away a lot of time and energy.

Choose your groups carefully and participate fully and completely; but when they are no longer of value to you it is time to cut the cord and focus on another group or something that will give you some benefit.

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