Originally posted by N.ShoreTrading
...I find that, being a home based full time trader, there are times when I would really like to meet with other traders in my area for an informal meeting...the site isn't very pretty to look at, hopefully it will serve its purpose. Just go to Northshoretrading.8k.com and click on the "Nationwide Traders Board" link.
I am located near Hartford, CT. Anyone else near there?
To take what nkhoi said a step further...a very easy way to meet traders in your area is via your computer system setup.
What I mean is this...lets say your using MetaStock Pro realtime software. MetaStock has "USER GROUPS" all over the world...same with many other popular sofware programs.
This is a rich source of not only meeting other traders in your general area but also meeting other traders using the same software.
In fact, you can probably place ads on bulletin boards at local universities, junior colleges business offices, run a cheap ad in the newspaper and so on.
It's what I did when I lived in Seattle, Washington for 11years. I formed a user group of QCharts users and TradeStation products (formerly Omega Research).
In months, I had over about 50 members for each user group (all traders and active investors) chatting online via mIRC in live meetings, going out for beers, playing a game of flag football and so on.
Your website is a good start but you may want (highly recommend) get rid of the pop-up ads that visitors hate.
If money is an issue (you don't want to pay $14 per month for a basic website)...get a geocities homepage or Yahoo eGroup or a message board forum just for this particular issue and then submit them to all major search engines.
I met 1/4 of my user group members in Seattle just because they came across it in a search engine or Yahoo Club (now part of eGroups).
Also, be active in many different message board forums and make sure at the end of all your message posts or post signature...you include your location (City, State, Alumni Associations, etc) in hopes of catching someones eye that lives nearby.
Good Luck.
Nihaba Ashi