I do think consistent activity on the various forums/communities helps. I was introduced to my local breeders fb group through someone I met as I went flying into my local reptile store in a blind panic when I finally saw Bubbles sitting on eggs (a swear my brain just went right out the window). This person happens to be very active locally and was impressed with my husbandry, so when I proposed a trade for one of my babies to someone else, he actually vouched for me (unbeknownst to me at the time). And the person who did the trade happens to be on Fauna and left me a good guy thread. If I wasn't both meticiculous with my husbandry and active in the local community things wouldn't have worked out so well I think.

And I would buy from people who I regularly see posting on here as well if they didn't have any fauna feedback, but it makes a difference when you see past posts of them getting/raising/breeding the animals. I would be more hesitant to buy from someone who isn't a regular poster and has no feedback elsewhere.