subject: Forum Marketing [print this page] Have you checked the search engines lately? If not, you would be surprised at how many different message boards and forums there are. If you consider our current society, however, it makes complete sense. More and more commonly, people are interested in listening to the advice of others based on user reviews, suggestions and comments.
Take apartment living, for example. It used to be apartment websites offered details on the unit, the amenities of the complex and the price. Now, almost all apartment listing sites include a tenant review board where potential tenants can see what existing tenants think of the complex before they decide to move in.
These types of forums can be great for your business! They are the best places to prove your expertise in your field so that you can boost your credibility and trust level with potential new customers while simultaneously promoting your products and services to other members.
When utilizing forums for marketing purposes, there are guidelines that must be followed to maximize effectiveness, such as:
Choose a less business-sounding user name
Most members on these message boards are wary of marketers and will instantly disregard whatever you have to say if your user name is not chosen well. You want them to see you as just another customer who is there to help them and everyone else with your personal experience and recommendations.
Create a great profile
Take the time to fill out the information sheet about yourself, it may seem redundant on a site where everyone has a bio but it can go a long way in helping others to identify with you and your opinions. In the "Bio" or "About Me" section, you can share a little bit of information about your business but it should not be your main focus, include your interests and hobbies as well.
In the website URL box, you can share the address to your landing page, after all, it is why you are here. You will seldom get flak for using this approach because it is why that field exists. It can serve as an effective inbound link for your site.
One thing to note, however, is that you should test your link to ensure it's working. There really are forum members who read bios, especially if you're becoming a prominent and respected member of the forums. They may click on your homepage link and will most certainly be discouraged if it doesn't work.
Make a strong presence
Your landing page should be well designed, informative, clean, and powerful so that it can convert your visitors into customers.
If you currently don't have at least one landing page you should visit ad2action.com . They specialize in helping people create a strong web presence and in a matter of minutes you can have a well-designed, customized and attractive conversion page for your business.
Read the rules.
No one likes it when they are dismissed, suspended or kicked out of a public opinion forum. It is a negative hit on your reputation and on your business as well. Each forum has its own policies and rules and it is important to read them carefully so you can make sure you are following the rules. This raises your appearance of professionalism, respectfulness and increases your creditability with other members.
Be sure that you are taking advantage of all opportunities provided by forums, within their rules and limitations, which allow you to promote your business in a polite and respected way, such as using a customizable signature. This can be a small block of text or an image, like your company logo, or a tasteful and unobtrusive banner. You can utilize this tool to drive traffic to your web presence on every comment you post as long as you follow the rules and be entirely within the lines of what is acceptable.
Use niche forums
It is true that niche forums are considerably smaller than general forums, but you are assured that its members share the same interests as you and your business.
To return to our apartment living example: if you run an apartment complex it just makes sense that you would want to focus your attention on apartment living forums where you can more or less guarantee all other members are either current apartment tenants who may or may not be looking to relocate, or people looking for the right apartment to move in to.
Sure, larger general forums will have more people but the message is quality over quantity. What's more valuable to an apartment complex owner seeking new tenants: communicating with 100 people who own their own home, or communicating with 10 people who are looking for an apartment?
Niche forums can help you find and join the topics and discussions in which you can easily share your own tips, guides, and opinions to promote credibility.
