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Faq

What is a Forum and how does it work?

A forum is a Web site where individuals post questions and answers. Most forums are focused on a particular subject area or niche. The Internet Marketing Forum has multiple categories to address specific topics within the main subject of Internet Marketing. These topics are further broken down into smaller forums. An example would be a 'Search Engine Optimization' that has multiple threads discussing 'Google'. The threads or conversation around Google would be considered 'posts.'

This Web site's home page has a complete list of Forums and Categories you can explore including a status update for each – providing information on the most active forums, number of threads, and the latest post(s).

What is a Forum and how does it work?

How do I get started?

Begin by selecting a forum you are interested in. This is done by clicking on the Forum name from our home page highlighted in a blue font. After clicking through to the individual forum, you are given a list of threads. A thread is an online dialog between registered forum members. Each thread begins with a single post and grows as more individual posts are added by different users responding to the thread. Threads can be rated to show how useful or popular they are. This information is helpful when searching for valuable discussions regarding the subject matter you’re interested in.

Please note: To start a new thread or comment on an existing thread, you must first register for the forum (click on 'register' link in the upper right-hand corner of the main page) and be logged in.

To start a new thread, navigate to the proper forum and then click the button that says 'New Topic' (you must be registered before posting).

Viewing Posts

As noted earlier, posts are defaulted to show the most recent response at the top of the web page. Threads that contain a significant number of posts can carry onto a second page. To view this content, click on the page numbers located in the 'Page' box which indicates threads that span multiple pages. This method of breaking items over many pages is used throughout the forum – especially for popular topics.

What are Sticky notes?

'Sticky' threads are created by forum moderators or administrators, and remain 'stuck' to the top of the listing, regardless of create date. Their purpose is to keep important information visible and accessible at all times. Often, sticky threads provide useful information, guidelines, or instructions. Be sure to ready Sticky threads before posting in a given forum. This can often save you a great deal of time and effort.

How do I read a thread and post a reply?

To read a thread click on its title. Each post in the thread has been created by a member of the Internet Marketing Forum. The first thing you’ll see is some brief information about the member who created the thread next to their post. In some cases it may be directly above their post.

To post a reply to an existing thread, click on the 'Post Reply' button. If the 'Post Reply' button does not appear, it could mean that you are not logged in as a member, or that you do not have permission to reply, or that the thread has been closed to new replies.

If enabled, there will be a 'Quick Reply' link in the lower left-hand corner of the post page where you can quickly enter a reply without having to go to the 'Post Reply' page. You may need to click the quick reply link in a post to activate the quick reply box before you can type into it.

Quick navigation?

If you know which forum you want to go to, you can use the 'Forum Jump' control, which appears at the bottom of many pages within the board. Simply click the pull down menu and select the forum you wish to visit.

How do I learn more about forum members?

To view information about a particular member, click on the user name. This will give you an option to view their public profile page which has been edited by the member. There you will be able to visit profile information that also includes statistics within the forum as well as the member's last 10 posts.

What is the Navigation Bar?

The navigation bar at the top of every page has links to help you move around the forum. A 'breadcrumb' area at the top shows where you are. This is particularly helpful for navigating throughout the forum quickly and easily.

Registration

Before having access to all the features of the Internet Marketing Forum, you will need to register. Registration is always FREE and requires each user to provide basic information to set up an account. Being registered gives each person an identity on the forum and a fixed username on all messages posted. You can also add an online public profile to be viewed by other members as well as a signature which may appear with each of your posts.

Registration offers a variety of features including:

Posting new threads
Replying to other peoples' threads
Creating and editing your posts
Receiving email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify
Sending private messages to other members
Adding events to the forum calendar
Setting up a 'contact list' to quickly see which of your friends are online.
Once registered, you have the ability to edit your profile, modify your avatar, add a signature, manage subscriptions, change your password, etc.

How do I register?

Registration is very simple. You begin by clicking on the 'Register' link near the top of the page on the right hand side. You are then asked to review and accept the terms associated with forum conduct.

After accepting forum terms you are asked to choose a user name, password and enter a valid email address. In addition there will be some other fields to which you’re invited to complete. Some will be mandatory while others are optional. Once this is complete you are fully registered. However, in some cases you may have to click on a link in an 'activation email' sent to your email address. Once you have done this you will be registered and have access to all the features of the Internet marketing forum.

Please note that we hate SPAM as much as you do. Entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam', as you can choose to hide it from other board users. You can allow other registered users to contact you via email, but the system won't display your email address unless you give permission.

If you are under the age of 13, the administrator may require that a parent or guardian provide consent before allowing you to complete the registration process.

How do I search for something?

To quickly find a thread or post of interest anywhere on the forum, click on the 'Search' link in the navigation bar at the top of most forum pages. Select the forum you would like to search in or the default which allows search across all forums. Type in the keyword or phrase you’re searching for in the box next to ‘posts’ and click ‘search’. A list of posts containing your keywords will be displayed based on full or partial match criteria.

How can I see the latest posts?

To view the latest posts throughout the forum, view the 'Active Discussions' area at the bottom of the forum home page. This will list the latest posts sorted by date and time.

Each administrator can also customize the forums so that each thread you read is marked with a special identifier. If this option is turned on then new threads (or threads with new posts) will not be marked as read until you have actually opened them.

What happens if I forgot my password?

Forgetting your password is relatively common. If you forget your password you can easily recover it by clicking on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link after navigating to the login page. Simply use the link in the upper right hand corner of the forum that says, 'Log In'. This option appears on any page that requires you to fill in your password.

This link brings up a page where you should enter your user name. An email will be sent to the address associated with your account immediately with instructions for resetting your password. You must be able to receive emails to your registered email address for this to work. You may need to check your spam filters and folder if you do not see this email within a few minutes.

What is the Members List?

The members list shows the registered members of the Internet marketing forum. Providing the administrator allows this, you can view the member list ordered alphabetically by username, by date joined, by number of posts or by reputation.

To view the members list, click on 'Member List' on main navigation bar at the top of the page. To quickly find a particular member, search the 'Member List' by selecting the first letter of a member’s name.

Are all members listed?

Some members may not be on the list. The administrator has the option to control who is shown on the list. They may omit members who have not made many posts or who belong to certain user groups.

Can I email other forum members?

Yes you can. To send an email to another forum member, you can either find them on the Member list in the top navigation or click the email button on any post they have written.

This will open a page that contains a form where you can enter your email message. When you have finished typing your email, press the 'send Email' button and your message will be sent immediately.

Can I see email addresses?

For privacy reasons a recipient's email address is not shown.

Why can't I send an email to someone?

If you cannot find an email button or link for a member, it means that the administrator has disabled this function or the member has said that they do not wish to receive email from other members.

What is private messaging?

Registered members may also be able to send messages to other members of this forum using private messaging which is presented as a button containing the letters PM. This system allows for personal communication that is not available for viewing to the forum public directly with other registered users.

What if I see something offensive?

You will find 'Report Abuse' links in many places throughout the Internet marketing forum. These links allow you to alert the board staff to anything which you find to be offensive, objectionable or illegal. Additionally, we have added a forum dedicated to reporting Abuse and inappropriate messaging.

What is the Public Profile Page?

Every member has a publicly viewable profile page. This page includes information provided by the member, either during the registration process or later on via the ‘My Profile’ link in the top navigation.

There are a number of ways to view a member's profile. Whenever you see a member's name, clicking on it will usually take you to view their profile page. In addition, the Member’s List allows you to browse all registered members, and click through to view their profile.

When logged in, you can also view and edit your own public profile by clicking on the My Profile option shown in top navigation at the top of the page.
You can also go straight to a profile if you know the username of the member by typing in the following into your web browser:

What's on the Public Profile Page?

The public profile lists information about the member. It also includes statistical information such as the number of posts they have made and their registration date. Profiles may also include name, email, a profile picture or avatar. A list of groups for which the registered user is a member is also shown.

How do I change my user details?

You can change your account information by clicking on ‘My Profile’ in the top navigation. Once you are on your profile page, you can edit your Messenger preference or Personal Profile. Simply click the criterion you wish to change:

Edit Profile
Modify Avatar
Signature
Subscriptions
Change Password

Once you've made a change, be sure to click save.

What are signatures?

'Signatures' contain information that you want to include at the bottom of each of your posts. This might include pictures, links to your site(s), quotes, etc. In addition, if you’ve entered your website and blog URL, this information will be included as wellWhen logged in, you can also view and edit your own public profile by clicking on the My Profile option shown in top navigation at the top of the page.

What are avatars?

Avatars are small images that people use to identify or distinguish themselves to other forum members. In some cases the administrator will not allow avatars or only allow them for specific members. The administrator can also provide some stock avatars people can use, or they can allow members to upload their own custom avatars from their own computers. These avatars will be displayed as part of the user info in posts, as well as in the public profile.

How do I set signatures, avatars and profile pictures?

You can set and change your signature, avatar, and other features by visiting your profile. As mentioned above, simply click on the 'My Profile' tab on the top navigation. You can enter the appropriate area to make the necessary change. For signatures, click on 'Signature' under the Personal Profile section.

To select an existing or upload a new avatar or profile picture, click on ‘Modify Avatar’.

How do I send Private Messages?

Private messages work just like email, but are limited to registered members of the Internet Marketing Forum. You may be able to include BB code, smilies and images in private messages that you send.

You may send a private message to a member of this forum by clicking the link in that appears after a post. When you type your message, select the user you would like to contact and hit 'Post' at the bottom of the message. This post will only be available to the individual member you selected.

How do I work with Private Message Folders?

By default, you will have three folders in your private message area. These are the 'Inbox' and the 'Sent Items' and ‘Archive’ folders.

The 'Inbox' folder contains any new messages you receive. It allows you to view all the messages you have received, along with the name of the person who sent it, and the date and time it was sent.

The 'Sent Items' folder contains a copy of any messages that you have sent, where you have specified that you wish to keep a copy for future reference.

The 'Archive' folder contains all messages you have chosen to archive.

You will need to periodically delete old messages, as the administrator has probably set a limit to the number of private messages you can have in your folders. If you exceed this number, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old ones.

What are subscriptions (currently not available)?

Subscriptions are a way of keeping track of different threads or forums. You can choose how you are notified about updates - for example by having them listed in your Profile and receiving email updates for each one.

How do I subscribe to a thread or forum?

To subscribe to a forum, click the 'Forum Tools' link above the list of threads then select 'Subscribe to Forum'. You will then have the option to choose the subscription mode for this forum. If the forum that you are subscribing to has any child forums (forums within a forum) then your subscription will be extended to these automatically.

To subscribe to a thread, click the 'Thread Tools' link at the top of the list of posts then click 'Subscribe to Thread'. You can then choose the subscription mode that you wish to use for that thread.

What subscription modes are available?

There are a number of different forum subscription modes available.

No Email Notification - lists the subscription in your User CP only. You do not receive any notifications about new posts or threads in the forum.
Daily Email Notification - sends one email a day with the new and updated threads in the forum and any sub-forums. If there are no new or updated threads in the forum or its sub-forums then you will not receive an email
Weekly Email Notification - sends one email per week in the same way as the Daily Email Notification.

Instant Email Notification - sends an email as soon as a new post is added to the thread. This is not sent for every reply and will only be sent once until you revisit the forums.

How do I manage Subscriptions?

You can manage your individual subscriptions by clicking ‘Subscriptions’ link in your profile menu. Here you can select the subscriptions you wish to manage and delete them.

How do I format my posts and messages?

When posting messages you may wish to include some formatting such as bold text, italic text and underlined text. You can add formatting to your post by using clickable controls similar to those found in most word processors.

This standard editor will show the BB code in your message and be processed when it is displayed. To use these, simply click the code, for example the B (bold) button and then type in between the code elements to produce the bolded text. You can also highlight text that you have already typed then click the formatting button to format existing text.

How do I reply to a post?

On some boards you might be able to post and reply as a guest user. But most communities require registration.

As a registered user you can go to a forum on a board where you have permission to view threads and leave replies. To reply you have a few options. You can click on the 'Post Reply' button and add a new post to the end of the thread. Alternatively, you can leave a quick reply in a quick editor box listed below the posts in the thread.

When using 'Quick Reply' you can choose to quote a particular post if you are replying to something someone wrote. You may need to click the quick reply link in a post to activate the quick reply box before you can type into it.

Can I edit or delete my posts?

If you have registered and are logged in, you may be able to edit and delete your posts (although the administrator may have turned off this option). Your ability to edit your posts may be time-limited, depending on how the administrator has set up the forum.

To edit or delete your posts, click the Edit button by the particular post. If your post was the first in the thread, then deleting it may remove the entire thread.

Once you've made your modifications, a note may appear to inform other users that you have edited your post.

If the edit time and date appear as a link you can click on this to see the differences between the original and edited versions, or between edits if there have been multiple edits.

Can others edit my posts?

Administrators and moderators may also edit your messages. If they do, there may not be a note telling other users that the post was modified.

How to create and participate in polls?

You may notice that some threads on this forum also include a section where you can vote on an issue or question. These threads are called 'polls'.

How do I create a new poll?

When you post a new thread, you may also have the option to create a poll.

This allows you to ask a question and specify a number of possible responses. Other members will then be able to vote for the response they wish, and the results of the voting will be displayed in the thread.

An example poll might be:

What is your favorite flavor of icecream?

Chocolate
Vanilla
Mint Chocolate Chip
Cookies and Cream
Butterscotch

To create a poll when you post a new thread, simply click the 'Yes, post a poll with this thread' checkbox at the bottom of the page, and set the number of possible responses you want to include.

When you click the submit button, you will be taken to the poll creation page, where you can specify the question and the list of responses you want to include.

You may also want to specify a time limit for the poll, so that (for example) it stays open for voting for only a week.

How do I vote in a poll and view the results?

To vote in a poll, simply select which option you want to vote for, and click the 'Vote' button. Sometime you can choose more than one option. You can see the current results for a poll before you vote by clicking the 'View Results' link. Voting in a poll is entirely optional. You may vote for any of the available options, or cast no vote at all.

Note whether or not a poll is a public poll. If it is, any votes you cast will be attributable to you. Generally, once you have voted in a poll, you will not be able to change your vote.

How do I attach a file to a post?

To attach a file to your post, you need to be using the main 'New Post' page and not 'Quick Reply'. To use the main 'New Post' page, click the 'Post Reply' button in the relevant thread.

On this page, below the message box, you will find a box labeled 'Attach files to this post'. Clicking this button will open a new window for uploading attachments. You can upload an attachment from your computer by using the appropriate box on this page.

To upload a file from your computer, click the 'Browse' button and locate the file. Once you have completed one of the boxes, click 'Upload'. When the upload is completed the file name will appear below the input boxes in this window. You can then close the window to return to the new post screen.

What files types can I use? How large can attachments be?

In the attachment window you will find a list of the allowed file types and their maximum sizes. Files that are larger than these sizes will be rejected. There may also be an overall quota limit to the number of attachments you can post to the board.

What are smilies?

Smilies are icons that can be used in your posts to express emotions or feelings. You might wish to use these to show that you are happy, sad, joking, or embarrassed. For example, if you are telling a joke or being sarcastic you may wish to add a wink instead of writing 'this is a joke'.

The basic smilies are the same as what you would find on any instant messenger system. They are made up of a combination of characters which often show the basis of the resulting image. For example, :) is converted to a smiley face and :( to a sad face or frown. Tilt your head to the left to see this in action as these consist of two eyes and a mouth either smiling or frowning.

How do I add smilies?

Some smilies can be accessed from the 'New Post' or 'New Thread' pages if your administrator has enabled this function. Clicking them will automatically insert them into your message.

What are moderators and administrators?

Moderators oversee specific forums. They generally have the ability to edit and delete posts, move threads, and perform other actions. Becoming a moderator for a specific forum is usually rewarded to users who are particularly helpful and knowledgeable in the subject of the forum they are moderating.

Administrators are the people who have overall control of everything that happens on the board. They oversee how the board is styled, what forums to create and how to organize them, what information to require from members and who to appoint as moderators.