Usenet is the fastest way to lose your host, and/or your ISP connection.

Yeah, all those folks are there, congregating to talk about their particular interests.

Get it? "Their Particular Interests!"

If you go that route, join the group, ask for the FAQ, and participate according to the guidelines they've established. You can include a 3 or 4 line signature file if you want. (Check the FAQ, first.)

Anything else will get you reported by more people than you ever suspected.

I know.

I'm one of the ones who'll spend copious amounts of time finding you and making sure your ISP, his carrier, your ISP's carrier's carrier, any and everybody who has anything to do with your connection is notified that you are using the group to promote your products.

Like forums on the web, the best way to sell to the participants is to be a participant who helps, and who just mentions (in the manner accepted) his products.

Many of the groups that I visit regularly have gone "totally private" in order that we may continue our interactions unfettered with the need to make the point about ads being unwelcome over and over again.

We run our own usenet servers, and only group members who abide by our terms of participation are welcome. And since it's private, password protected, and intimate, we find out who is doing what among the participants, and go to those people when it's time to whip out the old credit card.

Done properly, you can build a loyal following of customers . . .

Marye