Participating in an email discussion list is an ideal opportunity for online networking. By posting relevant and useful messages you can build your reputation, establish your credibility and promote your website and products. However, each list has its own rules, and failing to observe list etiquette could tarnish your reputation or even get you banned permanently from the list. Here are some do's and don'ts to help you stay out of trouble with the other list members:

Lurk for awhile.   "Lurking" (reading others' messages but refraining from posting your own) is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged when you are new to a list. Familiarizing yourself with the group and the nature of the discussion before you post a message yourself will save you from committing a faux pas.

Introduce yourself.     Post a one-time introduction if the list rules allow it. Tell your fellow list members a little about yourself, your business, and your products or services. Let them know what you have in common with them, what attracted you to this particular discussion list, and what you hope to accomplish by participating.

Contribute in a meaningful way.     Respond to requests from other posters, share your experiences, pass on information of general interest, ask for advice or feedback from other members, etc.

Proofread before you post.  Proofread and spell check your message carefully before you hit the "send" button. Check your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence construction. Also make sure that any links you include are accurate and working. Sloppy posts reflect badly on you, making the readers wonder if you're equally careless about conducting your business.

Post special offers for list members.  Some lists will allow you to post special offers (for list members only) on certain days of the week or month. Take advantage of this opportunity to offer special discounts, samples, bonuses, or freebies and turn some some of your fellow list members into new customers.

Include a subject line.  Be descriptive in your "subject" line so other list members will know what "thread" your message relates to. Successful lists have a high volume of emails, and many members peruse the subject line of new messages and only read them if they're interested in the topic.

Reference the message you are responding to.  If you are responding to or adding to a previous posting, include a portion of that message at the beginning of your own posting so the reader can follow the "thread" of the discussion.

Make good use of your "sig file".    At the bottom of your post, include a sentence or two about your business. Be sure to include URL, email and short description. Generally you're limited to a few lines by the list rules, so make every word count.

Be on the lookout for prospects.  Keep your eyes open for list members who might want your products or services (the ultimate targeted marketing!). They might be actively looking for a company like yours and prefer to give their business to a fellow list member.

Break the rules.  Most list moderators publish formal "list rules" and make compliance with those rules a condition of participating in the list. Breaking the list rules, even accidentally, might get you dropped from the list permanently and tarnish your reputation, so read them and remember them.

Stray from the topic.  Keep your postings relevant to the focus and mission of the list. If off-topic ("OT") postings are allowed by the listmaster, identify them as off-topic in the subject line.

Post gratuitously.  Don't send a posting to the list unless your message is helpful, informative, and of general interest to the list members. If it's not, respond privately off-list. If something's already been said by another member, don't post it again unless you can add new information or ideas and take it further.

Ramble.  Be brief and get to the point when posting. Take the time to compose your message in a logical and organized way. If you want to post about two unrelated topics, send separate emails.

Send HTML-formatted email or include attachments.  This may be prohibited by the list rules, but even if it's not it's a bad idea. HTML messages probably won't display correctly for some readers (who will see line after line of indecipherable code). File attachments could contain viruses, so most people won't risk opening your email if it contains attachments (and many lists are configured to strip off attachments).

Offend anyone.  Refrain from using profanity, insults, or strong language. Posting comments in all capitals are the online equivalent of screaming, so don't do it. If you disagree with another member's posting, be polite and tactful in saying so. Remember that everyone on the list is entitled to their point of view. Don't make remarks that could be construed as sexist, racist, ethnocentric, or anti-anything.

Cross-post.  Cross-posting (sending the same message to multiple discussion lists at once) is poor netiquette. Even if it's not specifically forbidden by the list rules, it will probably offend the list moderator. Take a minute to copy and paste the body of your message into separate emails.

Come on too strong.  If your posts to the list are primarily self-promoting rather than helpful and informative, you could wear out your welcome. Remember, the main purpose of a discussion list is to share information, ideas, and resources, and not to provide unlimited free advertising for its members. If you send a blatantly commercial message to the list, you may even be labelled a "spammer" as well losing your posting privileges.

Be in too much of a hurry.  Once you click on the "send" button your email will be on its way to all the list members and there will be no way to stop it or bring it back, so take the time to compose your email thoughtfully, accurately, and succinctly, and proofread before you post. Remember that a discussion list is a very public forum and your message may even be archived for posterity.