This sample shows how I approach community research when the goal isn't just "find groups" but "find groups where this specific message could actually be posted without getting removed or damaging trust."

For this piece, I researched where a free, seller-side notification service for people privately selling valuable collectible cars could realistically introduce itself. I focused on classic car forums, marque clubs, and Facebook groups, and for each one I checked the community's own published rules, FAQ, or terms pages rather than assuming based on size or topic fit.

The output separates communities into clear calls:

• Approach,
• Approach with Caution, or
• Skip

Based on actual evidence: a subreddit's no-classifieds FAQ, a forum's paid-vendor-only posting system, a club's official trade advertising channel, or a case where rules simply weren't publicly visible.

I also included one deliberate rejection example (a strong-looking community that should still be skipped) and a two-community deep dive showing how I'd actually approach the best-fit prospects:

• who to contact, and
• how to frame the message so it doesn't read as spam.

The point of this sample is qualification, not list-building: knowing when not to post is as much a part of the job as finding the list in the first place.

{ Full document is available to download below. Feel free to read.}