Looks like Clearcoin is no longer accepting new transactions. However, BTCrow looks up, I'll have to research them further. Thanks!

Thanks for all the info, gents!

@TheButterZone: that article is extremely helpful! I've bookmarked several of those sites, they look very useful.

@John: can you recommend any escrow services? My limited searching here has turned up community members and members of #bitcoin-OTC who will serve as escrow, but are there any reputable third-party services that do this as well? It's always good to have options.

Thanks for the advice!

Taking the risk side initially is definitely a good thing for me to remember.

As to creating something "we can't live without" and selling it, I think that's a little beyond me at this point. I have noticed very few active traders in my area, so I am hoping to become a reliable, local point of entry for people in Cleveland into the bitcoin markets. I have some experience in financial services and banking, so I think it's a natural fit. After all, the easier we make it for people to obtain and use the currency, the more likely it is to be adopted for transactional use!

Hello everyone!

I'm just getting into Bitcoin, and looking to trade it actively in time. Given the nature of the currency and community, it seems that a trustworthy reputation will go a long way, and a big part of that is consistency. So I have registered this nickname on the services that seem most useful: localbitcoins, here, and #bitcoin-otc. Are there any sites or services that I'm missing that would be useful to a US-based trader?

And of course, if anyone has some basic pointers for a newbie I'd be glad to hear them

Thanks!

Hello, Colin from cloudy Cleveland here. I'm dipping my toes into the Bitcoin waters. I love learning about the cryptography background of the currency, and I'm hoping to get into actively trading it. You can also find me on #bitcoin-otc!