The internet is capable of delivering a message to a vast number of people in a very short period of time. The ease with which people can reach these communities often makes them forget that, as large as a community might become, it is still made up of individual people. If those people feel they are being marketed to or being treated like a number, then the chance of them listening to anything the marketer has to say are very slim. You should treat the internet community just as you would any other community, and follow the rules of etiquette that apply accordingly.

I was recently invited to a neighborhood block party by some friends. Everyone in the neighborhood gathered together to make it a special event. Some of the neighbors were overseeing a large barbeque while others were attending to the table with the side dishes that everyone had contributed something to. There was a home-made ice cream stand and a booth set up just for drinks. It didn't stop with the food. There was a dunking booth, a petting zoo and pony rides. It was incredible. I've seen less offered at large street fairs then what was available here. Then I noticed something which I considered very interesting. A booth was set up for a network marketing product.

I soon discovered that the booth was being run by a couple that lived in the community. They had all their signage displayed nicely, but they did not stay at the booth much at all. They mingled with their friends most of the day, at other parts of the party. I noticed that some people took some of their brochures here and there, as well as some product samples, even though no one was managing the booth. The people who had set up the booth understood the power of community, and they were running it the right way.

It became apparent during the day that this couple was very actively involved in every aspect of their community, and were not known as the 'network marketers'. They had established themselves in the community in a way that everyone respected. When they set their booth up, they included pictures of themselves, so everyone would know who to go to if they wanted more information. Then, they left the booth alone, unless someone asked them to show them something specific. They let their reputation in the community do their work for them, and didn't shove their opportunity at anyone who didn't want to hear about it. People were free to go up to the booth whenever they wanted and read through the information which was laid out. This couple understood the prospect process very well, mostly because they didn't treat their neighbors like "prospects".

Seeing the booth, I could have mistakenly thought that it represented an opportunity to let people know about my own opportunity. I could have tried to start up conversations with people at the event and work my company into the conversation. Or, I could have attempted to set up my own booth and display my picture and company information. Either way, I'd probably be asked to leave rather quickly, or at least would soon find myself with no one to talk to as word spread about some stranger trying to peddle their business.

It's easy to recognize the rules of etiquette at an event like this, but so many people ignore them completely when it comes to internet communities. They will burst onto the scene and immediately begin to let everyone in the community know about their opportunities. They will try to set up camp and establish a marketing campaign without ever getting to know anyone in the community first. The same tactics that would get them ejected from a local block party are used recklessly on the internet, and continue to give network marketing a bad name.

The next time you join a new internet community with the hopes of exposing them to your wonderful business opportunity, stop and take a long pause. Take the time to get to know the other members and participate in community activities. Become an active member and earn people's respect. Once you have established yourself as a trustworthy and responsible person, and the community accepts you as one of them, you can very softly let them know about your business. But do yourself a favor. Set it up with the information they would need, attach your picture to it, then walk away and enjoy the party.