The way you act needs to reflect the kind of image you're trying to give. Obviously, if you want to be known for cracking jokes and lightening situations, you're going to use lots of smileys, slang, and wordplay. If you want to be authoritative, your typography needs to be solid and well-done.
The latter can often be difficult without adequate 'training'. Typing properly comes easily to me, but that's because I actually care. Most people only worry about trying to convey their message whilst they post. The standards of simply delivering a message are much lower than those of delivering a message effectively.
This is especially important when you are looking to large organizations for varying forms of aid. These groups are hailed daily by enterprising organizations, such as privately owned forums, for help.
A message like
Quote:
| "Yo man, what's up, I'm Adriel and I just got this forum, do you think you could help me? I want lots of members and I need some help with advertising and stuff like that" |
Doesn't seem that bad... does it? However, if you are receiving dozens of such messages on a regular basis, it's only natural to try and look for distinguishing features.
A message such as
Quote:
| "Hello, my name is Adriel. I've just started a forum called "Planes of Infinity" on Invisionfree, and I was wondering if you'd be able to help me. My goal right now is to increase my member population and I'd appreciate help with advertising, if you'd be willing." |
Honestly, it took me less time to make the second message up than it did the first, if not just because I type in a style similar to the second.
However, the second message gives a better impression. It suggests that I know fairly well what my goals are and what I'm asking for. It's respectful but not groveling. In actuality, if I were to go to a large-scale forum, such as InvisionFree itself, I would probably revise my message to make it more specific and more effective. "I'd appreciate help with advertising" isn't very specific.
By inference, I will tell you that a person will be more willing to help you if you have some inkling of what you are doing. Who would you rather try and teach multivariable calculus to; a caveman or someone who's already taken precalculus? Even if you are going to ask someone for help, see what you can learn yourself before you make your request.
These rules can be bent slightly when you are actually making advertisements. Grammar does not allow for one-word sentences, nor does it allow for unanchored pronouns. ('Unanchored pronouns' refers to phrases such as the slogan of Gatorade; "Is it in you?" The unanchored pronoun is 'it.' What is 'it'?)
However, to be effective, your advertisement needs to be succinct and needs to stick in the reader's mind. For safety purposes, it also needs to be short. If your billboard catches someone's eye, they might forget to watch the road and crash into another car while they read your paragraph-long signature phrase. Using the Gatorade example again, "Is it in you?" is a lot better than "Is the spirit of a true athlete in you?" or "Is an adequate supply of electrolytes in you?" The slogan might be vague but the general message still gets across. Gatorade has something you need.
The major pitfall of professionalism is largely psychological. When people proofread their work, they often miss their own errors because they are convinced they are right. Therefore, it is vital to have someone who you can ask to check over your work. The alternative is to read your advertisement backwards, which is an effective but tedious method.
It's not difficult to be professional. It's just easier to be sloppy. Make the extra effort and you'll find you won't have to try five million tricks to bring members to you.
--Copyright Lord-Adriel, 2005. Not to be copied or used without the express permission of the writer. 
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