Online forums and message boards are often ripe with knowledgeable and enthusiastic users who are true influencers on the Internet. But communicating with those influencers can be risky for brands, organization or marketers unfamiliar with the unwritten and sometimes quirky rules of engagement in such communities.

[flickr style="float: right"]photo:2891175016[/flickr]Patrick O’Keefe, author of “Managing Online Forums,” and owner and founder of the iFroggy Network, will discuss these niche communities and how to approach them as a user, marketer or potential manager, in a web teleconference presentation to the Social Media Club Louisville. The teleconference will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 21 as part of the SMC Louisville’s networking event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Louisville Visual Art Association at the Water Tower. O’Keefe’s teleconference is scheduled to run from 7 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The rest of the event will be informal networking for those in attendance.

Several copies of O’Keefe’s book will be given away as door prizes. Refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

Add this event to your Google Calendar here:

Patrick O’Keefe is a writer, web developer, and community administrator who has been managing online communities since 2000. Beyond just being the administrator, however, he’s spent substantial amounts of time contributing to communities from all angles, as a member, staff member and owner. He founded and owns the iFroggy Network, an Internet network featuring several communities, including SportsForums.net, KarateForums.com, phpBBHacks.com, CommunityAdmins.com and PhotoshopForums.com. He writes for multiple blogs, including ManagingCommunities.com.

For more information, contact Jason Falls at (502) 815-3257 or email smclouisville — at — gmail.com.

IMAGE: By Wendy Piersall on Flickr.