How to Find Support in Online Communities
- 1). Turn first to online communities where you already have a presence. Since people are wary of newbies in many online settings, you'll find the support you need faster if you're an established or older member. Don't worry if you haven't posted much; just having an older date on your membership profile will help you out.
- 2). Reply to other members' posts and build up the online community to which you turn to for support. Offer advice and support for others and you'll find it comes back to you.
- 3). Look for a forum dedicated to a particular event or issue for which you need support. Ask your online friends for recommendations, or an introduction to a board they belong to. If your child has recently been diagnosed with a disability or you adopt terrier puppies, look for a place to find support and advice specific to your needs.
- 4). Try social networking, through blog networks, forums and social sites such as Facebook and MySpace. You'll find friends you know in real life as well as new people who share similar interests or with whom you have friends in common. Once you add friends, you can go through their profiles to find more friends and build your network.
- 5). Check out websites designed to reconnect people with old classmates and acquaintances. You can search for high school friends, colleagues and fellow sports team members from years gone by at places like Classmates.com and Reunion.com, for starters.