| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | required would be a nightmare! On the flip side, there |
| Forum Marketing | | | | is no better and cost effective rewards than |
| Want to feel the pulse of your market niche? Know | | | | successful forum marketing. Make this then part of |
| exactly where to put your finger on it ...to gauge | | | | your long term strategies, as one of the irons in |
| what they really think, have issues with, or needs | | | | the fire if you may that when solidifies for you |
| that are unanswered. There is no better way than to | | | | will also reap for the long term. It is a good |
| go to the source and that is your very own source | | | | investment! |
| of prospects. They are qualified and if you can | | | | Your first move in the forum of choice is to |
| establish yourself as a trustworthy authority offering | | | | introduce yourself. Give a brief description of yourself |
| answers to their problems/ questions, you have a | | | | as well as an explanation why you chose that |
| great opportunity to land them as a customer. The | | | | particular forum. Look for threads the forum may |
| best source available to you is by enrolling in and/or | | | | offer that are designated for welcoming new |
| even hosting a forum yourself. Although this is a | | | | members. Don’t ever make any marketing |
| form of marketing that does require time and | | | | pitches out of the starting gate! If you try to sell |
| patience, you just can’t get better quality raw | | | | anything on your first post, there is a good chance |
| information anywhere else, not even in a survey! (I | | | | that you may find yourself banned. |
| mean raw in terms of honest with no | | | | Alternate Forum Marketing Activities |
| motivations other than addressing the topic at hand.) | | | | In as much as you are encouraged to participate in a |
| Here are some added benefits a business can glean | | | | forum, in time once you get a feel for the process, |
| from Forum Marketing: | | | | you may well consider hosting your own either as |
| * Do you own a blog? Are you always looking for | | | | your soul forum marketing activity or in conjunction |
| current and relevant content? From the questions | | | | with your activities on your host’s site. It all |
| asked and topics discussed in your forum you can | | | | depends on your time available and the successes |
| glean ideas and issues that can translate well into | | | | you build on either end of the scale. |
| article content and attract attention to your blog. | | | | Be cautioned though. It may sound easier said than |
| Consider not only answering the topics in the site | | | | done! Like any enterprise/undertaking you first need |
| hosted by the forum, but bring the issues and | | | | to start out with a good plan because your forum is |
| questions right to your home page! | | | | going to need a little more than just software to get |
| *Gauge trends within your niche discussions that you | | | | it going and make it successful. You need to carefully |
| can fill either with a product/service extension or | | | | select what topics to discuss within it, and you also |
| modify an existing product/service to answer the | | | | need to be ready to answer as many posts as |
| trend. Then use the same forum to announce their | | | | possible. |
| incorporation within your business. | | | | In the beginning , keep the amount of topics down |
| * The format of forums also allows opportunities for | | | | so that you don’t spread your forum too thin |
| you to obtain valuable back links, list building | | | | making it look like there aren’t many members |
| capabilities, as well as establish you as an authority in | | | | or activity happening to the curious onlooker |
| your niche. If you invest time and honest effort you | | | | considering to join themselves. (5 topics with 5 |
| can become the Go To person in your forum . | | | | comments in each look more appealing than 25 topics |
| * This is also an avenue to test market an idea in a | | | | with one answer each....) Organizing the content in a |
| safe environment, prior to costly investment. Here | | | | way to have the most popular stuff on topic at the |
| you can hone in and fine tune your strategy with the | | | | top of the forum. This is is the most likely relevant |
| help of interested and potential future prospects. | | | | content for the new visitor, and is the best way to |
| What more relevant and cost effective test market | | | | draw them in. Leave the chit chat and introduction |
| can you think of? | | | | topics at the bottom. That stuff is for your true |
| * Forum marketing offer's the same environment | | | | regulars, and they will check it out without |
| that social sites offer and what the consumers are | | | | encouragement. |
| now demanding; more personal and interactive | | | | Answer as many threads as possible, be a good host |
| relationship with the businesses they deal with. Like | | | | and make everyone feel welcome and an important |
| social networks, forums gives voice to the consumer. | | | | member of your community. What is the use of |
| How To Join A Forum: | | | | having a forum if you are not going to actively |
| You will be searching your browser trying to be as | | | | participate in it? Reply to threads that contain |
| specific as possible in your keywords to find the | | | | answers to previous questions , (possibly with |
| niche you will best fit into, as well as find niches that | | | | another question) just to keep the thread alive. |
| may not necessarily be serviced to their fullest. TAKE | | | | Actively and aggressively moderate the spam! Offer |
| YOUR TIME... don’t just jump in feet first. You | | | | something in addition to the forum... a tool or a link to |
| will want to take a look around so your time and | | | | a site with more information. This gives greater utility |
| your efforts will be spent wisely and with utmost | | | | to your forum and it is no different a strategy than |
| economy. Try different word combinations to see | | | | that used in list building . Or offer incentives for |
| what is out there. Use the same key word | | | | posting in your forum; give them a trial product, offer |
| strategy as you do in your SEO efforts. Testing | | | | a little free advertising, give them a link on the main |
| different keywords allows you to target specific | | | | page, allow them to post their website in the main |
| demographics whether it be audience, topic, or | | | | forum, etc. It is amazing how the quantity and quality |
| location to see what is going on in the marketplace. | | | | of posts increases after you offer even the slightest |
| You may even find a sub group in your niche you | | | | free incentive. |
| never even thought about and want to bookmark | | | | Getting The Word Out |
| and keep an eye on. Watching and assessing is | | | | Use the same strategy as you do for getting the |
| always your best initial move. Forums are tight knit | | | | word out for your blog, website, product or service: |
| communities, therefore initially sitting back and making | | | | * Use the social networks you are on to advertise, |
| note of who the influential users are, getting a sense | | | | announce and/or invite your friends to participate. |
| of the community, and the favorite and less favorite | | | | Announce your forum on a regular (but not annoying) |
| topics: will help you fit in more quickly. | | | | basis. |
| Not all forums are made equal! To be successful you | | | | * Consider making an announcement via press |
| have to hunt out the best fit for you and your | | | | release, banner ad, as well as adding it to you |
| business. Do not walk into a topic that you can not | | | | existing email marketing program . |
| prove yourself as an authority on. Look for popular | | | | * Encourage your friends, clients and other contacts |
| forums! You can try keyword searching in popular | | | | to spread the word for you. Offer an incentive if |
| sites as Board Reader, Big Boards, 100 Webmaster | | | | possible to encourage word of mouth. |
| Forums . In fact the last option will give you a wealth | | | | * See if you can get a guest posting on another blog |
| of sites to consider. | | | | or podcast to create interest and desire for joining |
| Don’t overwhelm yourself and overtax your | | | | your lively and informative forum! |
| time by taking on too many forums at one time. | | | | * Look into free classified posting as a potential |
| Only you know what is a reasonable amount to | | | | source of creating interest. |
| handle in your busy schedule, but here is a few | | | | * What ever you do...don’t spam! Keep |
| criteria you can use to short list the forerunners: | | | | everything professional and above board! |
| * Look for a list with good healthy membership, | | | | Two Types Of Forum Applications To Consider |
| (1000 members and up.) | | | | You have two options available when considering |
| * Look also for robust activity, one that offers at | | | | where you can host your forum. You can chose to |
| least ten plus posts a day. | | | | be off site, that is your forum is not hosted |
| * If you see spam in the forum, back away! Sites | | | | on your website but rather in a community of |
| that don’t moderate their spam offer more | | | | forums. Consider this to be a similar set up to that as |
| heartache than gain. | | | | Blogger where an individual can sign up and them |
| * And finally don’t go head to head on your | | | | format their own forum/s. If you enter follow this |
| direct competitor’s site. Their following is loyal, | | | | link (copy and paste in your browser if it is not |
| they have established a relationship already, you will | | | | working for you,) you can get an idea what these |
| only do yourself more harm than good! Seniority is | | | | sites offer. We suggest you shop around though |
| very important in forums. | | | | before you settle on that perfect fir for you. We are |
| * Check the rules. Check the user agreements and | | | | only using YUKU as example, and should by no |
| posting guidelines and look for forums that : | | | | means be viewed as a sole endorsement. |
| - allow you to place links in their posts, | | | | In addition to off site forum offerings, you can also |
| - allow you to promote your own business, | | | | consider hosting a forum on your own website |
| - allow you to contact other members for | | | | instead. To get a feel of what that is all about check |
| commercial purposes. | | | | out: . They specialize in business forums and the |
| - Check also the restrictions placed on new users and | | | | process is pretty painless and relatively simple: |
| weigh the advantages if there are any. | | | | Step one: register an account |
| You are dealing in a social situation and as in | | | | Step two: Customize necessary settings to have |
| any social situation , you have to remember | | | | your own branding |
| etiquette! Again it is worth mentioning that this is not | | | | Step three: Copy several lines of code and paste it |
| a quick and easy marketing strategy... then again | | | | to your site. |
| establishing long term and productive relationships | | | | Step four: You now have a full featured discussion |
| don’t adhere well to quick and easy thinking. | | | | forum.... |
| Rather it is eyed as suspicious activity generally | | | | We hope we have presented enough information for |
| viewed as a hustle in nature. The internet is fraught | | | | you to feel secure in making a sound decision on |
| with cons, hustlers, spammers and excessive | | | | whether Forum Marketing is a viable strategy for |
| phishing... you do not want to get lumped in this | | | | you. |
| category because the public relations mop up | | | | |