One form of marketing that is excelent for promoting your online business is called forum marketing. This will bring you a great amount of exposure. It is also a nice source of traffic to your site. You can join the forums of your choice and advertise in your signature. However, there are things you should
know before you pursue this avenue because it is a little tricky. However, after you have the hang of it, it isn’t so bad.
Dos and Don’ts in Forum Marketing
What You Can Do
1. Answer other people’s questions. Don’t post out of selfishness because people can detect that pretty quickly. You’ll be deleted if you use the forum
for selfish reasons. Only answer questions of you truly know the answer and can help that person. Examples of selfish posting is spamming the forum, giving recommendations that are not wanted, and posting new topics excessively when there is not legitimate reason to do it. Be real, be yourself. Everyone can detect a fake.
2. Many forums have a place where you can have your signature. This is the place to advertise your products. Your signature will show up under every post you post in the forum. Keep your signature short for many forums frown upon long drawn out ones. To do this, make a quick catchy phrase that will make people want to check out your sites that are in your signature. It is almost like writing a short title to an ad. You want to make it good so people will want to click. When you are writing or editing your signature, don't get carried away. It is a good idea to keep it to five lines. That is actually the rule on some forums.
3. Write articles about things that can be helpful to others but also pertinent to your business. Ask people if they can read your article, critique it, and give their opinions. Being that I am an English major, I suggest that you have at least a couple of people proof read your work. They can help you see things you won’t see. Plus, they’ll find mistakes that you missed even after you have read and reread your work a dozen times. Forums are great places to find people who will help you. You never know, if they like your work, you may get a good back link to your post.
4. Read the forum rules to make sure you stay in line with them. I didn’t do this in the beginning and I was sorry. I just have to say I am happy for next
chances. You don’t want to ruin your reputation in a forum because it will come back to bite you. Yes, you can go to other forums: however, there are chances you will run into people from the other forum you just left. I have heard of that happening, and it isn’t so pretty to the person it happens to. So, pay attention to the rules and regs and just be a part of the community.
5. To preserve your reputation so as to not ruin it, ask questions and answer other’s questions. This will show people you are not a know-it-all and willallow a chance for others to get to know you.
What You Should Not Do
1. Don’t post topics giving advice until you have been there for awhile. My recommendation is six months to a year—the time it takes an average person
to get to know someone. You can ask for advice or an opinion because it will allow for others to help you so you won’t seem high and mighty. Answer other’s questions because that means your advice is wanted: but, until your reputation has been built, it would not be a good idea to post up blogs giving recommendations or making suggestions. Allow them to know and trust you first. Of course, it will take time: but, it is worth it rather then giving a bad impression. It goes back to the old saying, “First impressions are what count the most." And “A first impression is one always remembered." So, don’t ***** it up for yourself. This does depend on the forum though.
2. When posting, don’t make it long and drawn out because you’ll lose people’s interest and become annoying to others. Try to keep it short and sweet. However, if you find you have a lot to say, break it up into small paragraphs for easy reading. But, just keep it as short as possible, especially if you are a newby to the forum. I’d say about five lines is good.
3. Don’t spam the forum and I mean DON’T! And, don’t even do things that will hint like spam. If you are a newby, especially to marketing forums, you are under EXTREME scrutiny. Be careful about asking people to PM you because some moderators take it as a hint to spamming or trying to sell something. You could tell someone that you will PM them to help them further on a topic they request assistance on: or, you could just PM them without posting that you will. Just don’t ask people to PM you frequently. I did this, and I was wrongly deleted a few times. I have changed user names like changing underwear: so, if you don’t want the hassle, then, stay on your toes. But, if you actually spam the forum, this will ask for automatic deletion. Spam found in emails is annoying enough, and if you do it, you’ll put a bad taste in people’s mouth, and they’ll never like your product.
4. Don’t advertise your product on the forums unless there are sections provided for this purpose. This, too, will grant you automatic deletion. That is what your signature file is for.
5. Don’t post out of excess just to draw attention to yourself. This is interpreted as spamming the forum and will get you banned.
Just as long as you follow the forum rules, stay out of the way of the moderators, and be friendly, your experience on the forum will be pleasant. And, in time, people will get to know you, trust you, and will want to check out your products. You can even build very firm and trustworthy relationships which will. in turn, turn into a nice pool for clientele. Should you want to consider this form of marketing—I recommend you do because the results are awesome—you'll see how overtime the results you'll reap!
Reina Brown is a young blind woman who has never allowed for challenges to weigh her down. She is an Internet marketer, sculptor, candle maker, and web master. She is better known as a jack of many trades. Her website, which she designed herself, can be found at
www.grandniches.com
on the World Wide Web.