If you have never visited an adult webmaster message board, there is only one question I can ask:
What the hell is wrong with you? Are you insane?
Okay. I lied. That was two questions. But seriously, if you've never visited an adult webmaster message board, you're only hurting yourself. Before I go on, let me explain to you what a message board is and isn't.
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"The real reason why adult webmaster message boards are indispensable to our industry is because they are our best and fastest way of disseminating information and news relative to our field." |
A message board is a text-based online forum where members post topics and other members reply to those topics. In the old days of the net, they were called BBS or Bulletin Board Systems. As the Internet and the applications to use it improved, message boards improved. Today, message board software is very sophisticated, allowing for threaded discussions, search, cute smileys, avatars and special characters. You can post pictures on message boards. You can send and receive private messages to and from other message board members. Depending on how the message board software is configured, you can rate other members and their posts. The most commonly used message board software is VBulletin. There are message boards for every interest imaginable. From celebrity fan boards to day trader communities to adult webmaster forums. Almost forgot, forum is another name for a message board.
While I wasn't around in the days of BBS, I do know that one of the earliest adult webmaster message boards was called the Condom Project. I got laughed out of there in my first and last post. Just a word of caution, adult webmasters can be kind of mean. Maybe you are like I was back then - ready to chuck it all and go it alone after getting dissed by people I turned to for help. Or maybe you've been lurking in horror, not quite ready to face the snark. It's cool. We've all been there. There's not a single one of us old board whores who haven't experienced a fair share of slams from our peers. Sadly, I have to admit I've dealt a number of cruel blows to people who happened to push my buttons on the wrong day. I'm much better now and only lapse into ugly behavior when truly provoked. My skin is thick and yours will be too if you just jump in and start posting.
Q: Why should I post, Titmowse? Can't I learn everything I know by reading old posts and tutorials?
A: You can learn a hell of a lot by reading the boards and performing searches on subjects you're interested in. You can also learn a lot by reading those tutorials. Then again, this business turns on a dime. New issues and new questions arise every day. And every once in a while you might be the lucky webmaster who asks a question that's never been asked before. More importantly, when you join and participate on an adult webmaster message board, you begin to market your most important product: You. Who wants to do a link trade with someone they never heard of? How will other webmasters discover your stellar programming skills if you hide them away? How can you stand to live all alone with nobody to talk shop with?
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Look, nobody is asking you to rack up 20,000 posts in a month. Post as often as it makes you fell comfortable but post. Just say hello. Introduce yourself. It's not hard, as long as your first post isn't spam. How will you know if your post is too spammy? Believe me, from the responses you get, you'll know. As I said, join a board. Say hello. Respond to an innocuous topic or two. Put the URL of your website in your signature file. Get a feel for the flavor of the board you join. Some are crazy busy, rife with gotcha posts and literally oozing with sarcasm. Others are kind of cliquish, with plenty of ass-kissing and mod groveling. There are boards devoted to particular porn niches. There are boards where the webmasters like to talk about TGPs and gallery making. Some boards are total sausage fests while others let the ladies rule. Find the board that fits you and become part of the community.
The real reason why adult webmaster message boards are indispensable to our industry is because they are our best and fastest way of disseminating information and news relative to our field. When the US Department of Justice decided to re-write 2257 record-keeping requirements, it was the boards that spread the word and allowed us to come together and stand up to the legislation. The same thing happened with the .xxx TLD. The boards posted the link to ICANN's public comment page and our collective voices helped stop us from being relegated to an Internet red light district. Any time a sponsor is caught shaving sales or an affiliate is caught cheating a sponsor, the board is where the news is made. I know of no other industry where a lowly webmaster can challenge and powerful player face to virtual face.
If you truly are new to adult webmaster message boards then let me recommend the best place to make a start. Cozy Campus. We have been catering to newbie webmasters for seven years. We will answer your question, no matter how elementary it might be. We tolerate absolutely no spam on our main forum and we offer addition forums for newbie questions, traffic trades, site critiques and those looking for a job or needing to find an employee. We have some of the most helpful people in the adult Internet as members and many of our former newbies are returning the favor by assisting people just like you.