Forum Marketing Basic's Posting to forums and message boards is a great way to get traffic, network with potential clients and brand yourself in the online community. Posting to forums and message boards doesn't cost any money and can be done in your spare time.
Posting on niche market forums can be an effective means of getting targeted traffic to your capture pages PLUS networking with people who are into the same things that you are. The coolest thing about joining and posting on message boards is that every post you leave will have what is known as a signature file left on it (which will contain a link to your capture page but more on that later).
The beauty behind marketing on forums isn't that you go out and directly advertise your product, service, opportunity on the board, in fact I do the complete opposite! Get involved in the community and leave your signature file on every post you make. Think of your signature file as your footprint that you get to leave behind every time you make a post on a forum/message board. It always stays there, steering targeted and interested visitors to your capture page.
As long as you use discussion boards wisely and don't break any of the board rules, you can get access to huge marketing benefits. Not just in terms of people getting to know and respect your expertise, but in terms of the traffic you'll receive from the links that are attached to your posts and signature files.
Read on for more.
How To Master Forum Marketing
Step #1 - Understand the concept Of Marketing on Message Boards/Forums
Although you could just use your primary capture page, you can greatly increase your opt in rate by creating a page specifically for the traffic coming from the posts that you make on message boards.
You want to build a specific capture system page for 2 very important reasons:
* The page you create can speak directly to the audience that is viewing it. If you know that everyone who will see this page just came from a message board, you can customize the page to reflect that.
* You want to keep specific stats on how much traffic you get from posting on message boards and how many people opt in to become leads from this strategy.
Step #2 - Build a capture page that will ONLY be used for Forum Marketing
There are a couple of other things you should always aim to do when making a splash page;
* Focus the page so it is directed at the audience coming from the message board posts. For example if you like golf and are posting to forums on that topic, add a picture of you a the golf course with a heading like..."Here I am at _____! The reason I am able to spend 20 hours a week playing golf is......Let me show you how I was able to achieve my dream...."
* The page should be clean and has a set color scheme that matches the background. Not to much color, I would stick to 2 or 3 at the most.
* Have your name and information plastered all over the page. When you follow up with this person, you want them to already have a picture in their mind that you are someone who can show them how to achieve success and solve their problems. The reader should also know that you value you time, so be sure to detail you office hours. This is the power of "positioning" when using your capture page!
Step #3 - Join Forums that Interest You
Now that you've built a specific capture page it's time to go out and find a couple of forums that you would like to join. There are millions of forums available online so to find the one's your interested in just go to Google or Yahoo and do a search. Try terms like;
1. ____________ forums
2. ____________ message boards
3. ____________ discussion boards
4. ____________ online forums
5. ____________ online message boards
(fill in the blank with your area of interest eg - parenting, wah mom's)
It is important know that not every forum you join will make you enter the HTML code to make your website a link. The good news is that you can always change your signature file if you need to so don't be worried if you get it wrong on the first try. Just browse the terms of the forum before joining to be sure you are not breaking the rules. The forum may not links to business's in the signature file, but may allow you to put a business website under your profile. So if people like what you have to say and check out your profile they can still visit a capture page. If permitted by the forum you can enter multiple clickable links in your signature file.
Step #4 - Start Posting, Replying To Posts & Get In The Conversation!
In order to start leaving your "footprints" online you need to start making posts, replying to posts and adding to conversations. Every time you make some sort of post your signature will be left at the bottom of that post. Thats one more chance you can be seen online!
* Make posts that will engage your readers and draw attention to your conversation. Share knowledge and ask questions.
* DON'T start writing about things that are not relevant to the forum you are on. If you use these niche forums to brag about your opportunity your account will probably be suspended and your posts won't stay online. The goal is to blend in with the other posters and let your signature file do all the work. There is such a thing as spaming on these forums, so check the terms if you are unsure.
* Make your profile as interactive as possible. Make sure you fill out all the "about me" questions when you sign up as well as an "Avatar" (picture) if the forum lets you do so.
* Post often! It only takes a minute to create a new post or reply to someone else's with your p.o.v. Post a few times a week and leave your footprint (signature file) everywhere you can online!
Step #5 - Find another "high traffic" forum to join and repeat steps 1 - 4!
It may help to keep a seperate email address for these accounts and a list of the forums you have joined, including user name and passwords. Maybe set up a text file or spreadsheet to keep this organised.
Isn't it great that even when you are not working persae you can still indirectly promote your business!
How To Choose The Right Forums
The crucial statistic to look for is how many views a topic has had, rather than how many replies. Often marketers tend to think that the topics with the most replies will give them the best exposure, but this is not the case. Most readers will skim through the first page of replies and never get any further, and if your comment is buried on page 5 there is not much hope of your links being clicked.
Take this approach instead, look for topics with very few responses and a large number of views. Consider starting your own topics that ad value and be sure the headline sparks curiosity.
When you first enter the forum, search for the most recently posted topics first, then you can get your comments on the first page.
As good forum is an active forum. Check to see how regularly posts and comments are being added. From a search engine and traffic perspective remember that while good rankings give you quality back links to your site, there are tons of high traffic low ranked forums that may be a little less popular with other marketers.
How To Take Your Forum Marketing To The Next Level
Build A List
Here is another idea for you.....the above technique can work great for building a list also! Build a list of subscribers that will become your 'warm' market for future offers. The process is the same as above create a capture page specific to building your list. Offer value in exchange for a subscription, say e-books and free bonus's. Make a page designed to build your list PLUS drive traffic to your website at the same time.
2.0 Social Marketing Power
Give your forum marketing 2.0 Social Marketing Power. Upload video or radio to your capture page. Include a link to your YouTube or Helloworld account.
Profit From A Personalized Thank-you Page
Once a lead has opted into your capture page, most quality auto responders allow you the option of redirecting the traffic to a customised 'thank-you' page. Make the most of this opportunity and offer discounted products at a good price point. Or build more credibility and giveaway quality e-books or link to one of your related websites or YouTube videos - these are just a few ideas! Be creative and think credibility and or front end sales.
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Contributor's Note
Source -
Shaye Richardson writes as 'The How To Hub' on Hubpages.com
http://hubpages.com/profile/The+How+To+Hub
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