Forums, also called message or discussion boards, are springing up all over the Internet. These boards provide a means of getting into a discussion about a variety of business-related topics, get advice from the experts, or offer advice to others based on your own experience.

Some of the best and most comprehensive message boards are Yahoo! Business and Finance boards. Enter into a discussion on Short Term Trading, where you can swap stories and tactics "in pursuit of the quick buck," or learn what's the best mutual fund, fund category, or fund trading strategy in the Mutual Funds forum.

Access Business Online also has an impressive listing of message boards. Categories include Business Management, Import and Export, and Ask the Experts. Each of the major categories further breaks down into subcategories. For example, under Ask the Experts, you can access bulletin boards that provide expert advice in areas such as internet marketing, business finance, and international markets.

Another site that offers message forums is ICC Discussion Groups. You can participate in a Small Business Forum where you can share industry news and ask questions, or in a Legal Forum, where legal news, questions, and answers are shared, as well as other categories.

Women entrepreneurs will enjoy the Our Voices section of the Pleiades Network. A variety of discussion groups are available, including Woman Entrepreneur (Running a Business Successfully), Working 9 to 5, and Money Matters.

Worth Online, sponsored by Worth magazine, offers message boards that provide a means for exchanging ideas about money, finance, and, as stated at the site, "financial intelligence." Access these boards and discuss Initial Public Offerings to learn of new companies that are going public, or DRIPS (dividend reinvestment plans) that let you buy stock directly from a company. Other message boards include Mutual Fund Strategies, Investor 101, and Discuss Peter Lynch Columns.

Visit Entrepreneur Magazine's Small Business Forum to meet others in your field, to post a message, or to reply to a discussion comment. Topics include hot business opportunities, franchising, advice for starting a new business, international marketing, and management and marketing strategies.

Another excellent site that offers the opportunity for you to network with others is Entrepreneurial Edge Magazine. The forums are geared toward those starting or building a business, and they allow you to visit with experts and other entrepreneurs who can provide advice, exchange ideas, or lend support. Topics include a Brainstorming Boardroom and Business Jam.

The ON Business Forums provide an interactive system for sharing information on how to increase business success, productivity, and satisfaction. At this site, business experts will answer your questions, post advice, and initiate new topic threads. Participate in their Management Forum, Small Business/Entrepreneur Forum, Peer-to-Peer Trainers, Professional Speakers Forum, and more.