RealInnovation.com Forum Etiquette And Tips

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The main focus of this discussion forum is to create an open communication channel between all of our participants. For the "new to Innovation" as well as the experienced business professional, having the ability to network with colleagues working in parallel fields is extremely valuable. But how do you maximize the RealInnovation.com discussion forum potential?

1. Stop and read. Many threads include sub-conversations within the original posting. When you're ready to respond, select the "Post A Reply" option (not the "Post A New Message" option) and make sure that you're currently reading the post to which you want to reply. Many posts often get lost because a user will attach it to a wrong original post, or worse yet, post a whole new message when they wanted to post a reply to a particular message.
   
   
2. Do not promote products, services or businesses on the discussion forum. The RealInnovation.com discussion forum is not a medium for user or business advertising. Violators will have their post removed and could be banned from further postings. Please read RealInnovation.com's full policy on promoting products and services on the forum.
   
   
3. Do not post open jobs or positions on the discussion forum. Instead, post them on the RealInnovation.com JobShop. In addition, we are not allowing resumes to be posted to the discussion forum (you can do it in the Job Seeker section. We realize that many RealInnovation.com readers need new career challenges, but the discussion forum is not the appropriate vehicle to advertise your skills.
   
   
4. Write a well worded question and description. Nothing solicits comments and suggestions from experts more than a well thought-out problem statement with appropriate data. Make sure your posting has a question if starting a thread. If the post is nicely worded, it may even be highlighted in one of the RealInnovation.com newsletters with circulation to Innovation professionals worldwide -- a sure bet you'll receive the input you need.
   
   
5. Stay on topic. Replies should be answers to the original question. Try not to create sub-conversations in a thread as it complicates reading and really doesn't belong in the thread. If you have a discussion topic that was generated from reading a thread, just start a new thread.
   
   
6. Be considerate to others. It should go without saying that you should treat others as you would like to be treated. If needed, RealInnovation.com Community moderators will delete repetitively rude, obnoxious and abusive forum posts. Moderators also have the ability to ban users from posting to the discussion forum entirely, but we hope to never use this functionality.
   
   
7. There are no dumb questions. Many readers do find users obnoxious if they haven't made a good faith effort to determine if a similar topic has been previously discussed. For instance, let's say you're in India and you want to find local trainers of Innovation. Search the forum for "India training" or simply "India" (sans quotes) and sift through recently discussed topics. If you know of an answer to a question that has been previously asked, don't hesitate to link to a previously answered post.
   
   
8. Don't abuse the forum. This should go without saying, but certain posters have required this specification. Do not post under many screen names in order to support your position. Don't try to deceive. Do no harm. We track information associated with each post and abuse will not be tolerated.

A Few Words About Spam
Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (UCE or "spam") can occur when users reveal their email addresses and others use them for personal gain. Although RealInnovation.com asks for an email address to notify you of follow-on messages (if you check the box), we do not reveal your email address to anyone. If you feel the need to reveal it, at least break it up or modify it so automated email harvest programs cannot capture it (for example, myname @ emailhost dot com) but people can easily decipher it.

Effective Forum Posts

• Use a clear subject line when you post a message. Does it give readers a good idea of what your message is about? By using a specific subject, you can attract the attention of the right person without them having to read every single message to find yours.
  
  
• When replying to a message, use the "Post A Reply" button so your message will stay in the "thread". A thread is a set of messages all on the same topic.
  
  
• The first post of a thread should explain the intention of the discussion and give as much data as possible. If you're looking for help setting up a data collection plan, describe the process, data to be collected, factors that will come into play, etc. The more information you provide, the more likely someone is to respond.
  
  
• Search the forum for similar posts. Before creating a thread on a topic, try searching the forum and the Innovation Q&A article.

If you have any more tips for others, please feel free to send them to us!

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