[Ankesh]

Thanks for posting about sowpub as an idea bank vs sales platforms.

Sowpub is one of the two forums I visit regularly. And I do so because of the ideas.

But:

1. Writing and participating on forums do take time.
2. Forums are one of the easiest free ways to generate traffic to websites.
3. And so - many people combine the two.

They write a post and try to sell too. I think there is nothing wrong with trying to sell - as long as you provide something of value in return too.

(On a few forums that I visit maybe once or twice a month, I do have better signatures that sell more effectively and directly than I do at sowpub too... On other forums, I do try to sell a bit more directly. On sowpub, I try to make friends.)

Usually, if the post or the poster provides good ideas, an ad will be allowed. Even if it is a tad bit blatant. I think that is fair. But thats just my opinion.