Email discussion lists and web forums are very important because they offer you a chance to get highly clear-cut subscribers. For example, if you are interested in web developing you will want to join to lists that discuss about these topics. If those lists are popular they may have several thousand members!

If you are a software business it is recommended that you track list and web forum threads that cover the identical or similar industry like your businesses products . If your company is one of the leaders in your area of business it is most likely that some of your businesses products will be mentioned and commented there. Some people will recommend them but some people can write some negative comments. It may also be your competitor. You might see that participating on discussion lists and web forums is not only important because of getting more email subscribers. It is important because of goodwill. If you are a member of a certain list and someone asks something related to your item you will be there to assist. More important, you will be there to reply if you read negative comments about your merchandise . You will be able to clarify that issue and save your goodwill. It is very professional to see that there are companies which find very important to have their people on different discussion lists and forums.

Speaking about taking more e mail subscribers, you will achieve that if you participate in discussions. You will ask and answer questions and at the finish of your posts will be your signature lines. You might also post the latest news or article from your news letter if it is appropriate for that list or forum. For example, if you build an exclusive interview with some VIP human you can announce it on relevant places. You may tell them that you publish exclusive interviews on a regular basis and it is most definately that they will subscribe to your e-mail news letter .

You have to choose your signature line very carefully. Beside your name, you can add your job title, business title , service name, slogan, phone number. However, dont build your signature look like an ad. It is recommended that you have at least two types of signatures, one shorter and one longer. Different places have different rules so some places will allow only shorter signature lines and some places will allow longer signature lines, as well. It is best to lurk a while, to only read messages and later to participate.

My shorter signature:

-- Best regards, Dejan Bizinger
Group Mail 5 :: Email Marketing Software http://www.infacta.com/gm --

My longer signature:

-- Best regards, Dejan Bizinger

*Infacta :: Your Message - Your Way * http://www.infacta.com

PS: Need Message tracking? Use GroupMetrics and get results now! Find out more at: http://infacta.com/gms/ --

If your e mail newsletter covers IT related topics we can suggest you several great e-mail discussion lists and web forums.

Email discussion lists

Online-Ads http://www.o-a.com

Link Exchange Digest http://www.led-digest.com

Web forums

SitePoint Forums http://www.sitepointforums.com

Web Hosting Talk http://www.webhostingtalk.com

DB Forums http://www.dbforums.com

High Rankings http://www.highrankings.com/forum

It is not enough that you participate, it is important to help others to solve their problems, that you provide worth-added answers. Give to get. Give them solution for their problems and they will appreciate it very much. Even if they dont subscribe to your email newsletter or visit your internet page , your company will have a great brand-awareness and positive goodwill because of your help.