subject: How to Build Traffic Using Forums [print this page] How to Build Traffic Using Forums How to Build Traffic Using Forums
When people start thinking about traffic generation methods, especially newcomers, one method that never would spring to mind is through forums. I mean, how could a forum generate traffic to my site? By what means and why?
I must admit, I had always been skeptical about this method. After all, nobody knows me or anything about me. I could not understand how forums could generate me any traffic. I just could not figure out how this method could ever be any use to me and so I have always given it a miss. To me, there was just no opportunity.
So why change my mind now? What has made me believe that it can be effective?
I decided to learn and find out how and why. After all, so many guru's always bang on about how much traffic can be obtained in this one little way. Surely they can't all be telling lies.
So what are forums and why can they be so important to your online career?
Basically, they are a community of people with a common interest. A place where people can chat, advise and forge friendships, which may in time turn into JV partnerships.
There is a saying, you can make more friends in three months by paying in interest in others than in three years trying to get others to pay an interest in you. This is very true of forums. You need to be seen to be helping people and not just taking all the time.
Use the power of conversation to build your reputation. Answer fellow members questions, give an opinion on a product you know about or even just thanking them for a good post. If you are perceived to be helpful, people will start to click on your profile to find out more about you and your signature at he bottom of each post. People coming to your site this way are already pre-conditioned, they know you are helpful and are taking the trouble to find out even more about you. It is a fact that traffic coming to your site voluntarily in this way have a much higher conversion rate.
Never forget to fill in your profile properly. So many people forget to do it, yet it is someone's first chance to get to know you. If this isn't filled in, you may lose the chance to direct that person to your blog or site. Fill in your bio, let them know what you are doing and what you have been doing. Put in an email address for someone to contact you. Put in a link to your website or blog so they can find out even more. Remember to complete your signature, this is seen on every post that you submit. This may be your website or even an affiliate link. This will almost definitely be the only place where you can put one.
There are forums for virtually every niche, internet marketing, dog breeding, flying kites, even dog breeders flying kites I should imagine.
Get to know the forum, find out how active it is, see how many members it has and how many threads there are. Find out who the helpful people are and find out if you can learn anything from them. Do they have an email address in their profile? If so, email them, try to build a relationship with them. Start being active, ask questions, answer questions. Focus on providing value and giving to the community. Do this and you will soon build a following of people who will trust you.
Remember, the more helpful you and and the more posts you make, the stronger the reputation, which will lead to more of a following, which will lead to more traffic, which in turn leads to more prospects and opt-ins, which in turn leads to more cash.
It is all about building credibility through the power of conversation, people will find a way to find out more and as I said earlier, voluntary traffic is much easier to convert.
Another good thing is that forums have a kind of 'set it and forget it' element. What I mean by that is, if you post advice or a helpful comment, that post will be there for months and can be viewed hundreds of times giving you potentially hundreds of visitors, even if you never go back.
There are a few do's and dont's. DO always read the forum rules, you don't want to be banned. DON'T spam the threads with links with affiliate links, this is one surefire way to destroy your reputation as well as getting you banned.
Just follow these tips to add another traffic stream
* Register your own name (cant build your reputation without it)
* Upload a good photo
* Fill out your bio
* Include a link to your website in your profile and signature
* Read the forum rules and obey them
* Post regularly with content and tips
* The more good stuff you post, the more that you will be noticed
* Remember, Reputation + Credibility + Value = Traffic
* Build relationships through conversation
* Don't spam or be hypey
Remember these guidelines and don't miss out on forum traffic like I have for so long.
