Keith, a reference to the information on the following thread might be interesting.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508811
Seems that most of the "responders" don't subscribe to Blade Magazine and some don't think much of any of the knife magazines. If a maker advertises in Blade, this forum has an audience that they are likely not reaching.
I don't post as often as many do, and don't feel obligated to post at all. I do try to visit for a while every day. If I see a thread that is interesting, and I feel from reading the posts that I can add something, I might comment. Many times I just lurk. It's a great way to relax, keep up with some friends and their work, and make new friends. I guess the point is.... a maker or collector can choose the level of participation that they want, and are comfortable with.
I agree with Roger's post that the forums are also a good way to expose your work to the knife buying public at a very low cost. The best way to judge the effectiveness of the exposure is in the increase in web site hits and orders. It works. We have tested this over and over.
There are a few cautions that should be recognized though. The access to information is often instant and from some of the best in the business. It can also be from people that don't really know the information they are providing first hand. The chuckleheads Roger was referring to don't last long, but some of the posters providing information are doing it with the best of intentions. It just might not be good information. The advice here is free, sometimes repeated several times and worth at least what you pay for it. If you question the validity of advice received on a forum, Pvt. Message someone that you think will know the answer. They will likely tell you or lead you to someone that does know.
If you want to increase the exposure to your business, people will need to know who you are, so use your name. To me it is a courtesy to identify your self in a conversation and the same holds true here. Along the same lines, if you don't know who the poster is, why would you assume that his experience or level of knowledge is better than yours? Many people hide their identity on the forums, and I just have to wonder about the reason.
Montanna is a bit of a drive for someone in South Georgia (have anvil and will travel) even though I would love to make the trip. I would be very interested in your comments, if you would care to post them after your talk. It would be an interesting topic to discuss at a Georgia Guild meeting.