How do you go about marketing on forums without spamming?

Are there any methods of effective forum marketing that don't violate forum rules? (ie spamming)

 

Each forum is different. Contacting the forum admin first might keep you off the ban list.

As an example - I have a free classifieds section on my forum. But people would rather post links and spam my site then to post their items in the classifieds section. And as a result, they get their post deleted and their account banned.

 

Signature is the best place. If you can find forums that are related to your product you may have better chance placing your service/product. Otherwise you may get banned.

I have a relatively new forum. I had to ban about 5 people who would post nothing but spam. I have warned them first. They never care.

 

never hurry to advertise your website , first settle at the forum build your popularity and then go about doing anything , this method takes time but its good investmentment ,
i used this method on my competitors forum, when i was no where near him , now i have a forum to match his stats

 

Signature - that's the only way that I know. Unless the forum offers advertising space like using banner (paid of course). When promoting your sig, don't spam or you'll be ban from the forum.

 

... Build a reputation. Use your sig. It takes time, but it works. I just started here, but in another IM forum I am in the first page of members and when I say something, people listen. Taking your time is not a waste because by the time you build a reputation, you'll have some wisdom to share.

Success,
Sam

 

Has it occurred to you to provide useful posts?

 

Before I participate in a forum, I would read the rules that covers signatures and links within replies and threads. Most of them allow self promotion within the signatures, like DP.

If so, I will join and keep posting contributing replies on thread relevant to my signatures. Be indirect when promoting such as using phrases like "I knew more of this but posting all of them here will eat up a lot of time, why don't you refer to the site in my sig?" or "I have been in this field for years and I understand your problems after answering a reply".

 

If you write quality posts everyone will be happy. Some forums might even make your post sticky.

"Hey guys, check this out" is obviously not the way to go

 

The best thing i can recommend is to use your brain, which many spammer dudes dont seem to posess. If you are useful to the community and provide good info then a link is fine. But if your post says

Hi All

Ive found this amazing money making system, you can earn $1,000 per day easy. Check it out here ( affiliate link)

Then you will be consigned to the spam bin instantly

 

I agree with all the posts here. Its worked for me.
Build up a reputation.

Start a thread that will interest all.

Include a link to the thread in your sig.
Also inlclude a link in your sig to an affiliate site/your own.

Watch the referals from the Forum come in and make you some $$$..

Have I used this effectively? Of course.. see my sig!

 

Above suggestion is really good, and the more helpful you are the more people care.

 

Be a reputable poster -- stick around the forums for a while before advertising anything. Make quality posts and build credibility with the other forum members.

Also, keep your advertisement in your sig.

 

To market my forum - I have been creating nitch videos over the last year. The video is watermarked with the site address, and I put a link to the site in the videos description. The videos have been uploaded to about a dozen video hosting sites.

These videos account for about 20% more traffic the google searches.

 

The best advice is not to jump and put links allover.

First, build your reputation first contributing with knowledge on Forums.

Second, make an intelligent choice in your signature, but read the rules to be sure you stay in the rules.

Third, put links in your forum text if only and only if the link is relevant to the subject, it is a natural contribution to your content, and the rules allow you to do it.
We already know “the content is the king” in Web Sites, Articles but it is in the forums as well and a link which will add knowledge or will clarify the content is not a spam.

Regards
Michisor2

 

Forums are very tough to get going. Nobody likes to visit an empty forum.

If you really want a successful forum I suggest establishing a website on the topic first. Once you feel that you have enough visitors to support an active forum, do it.

Sometimes it is about timing. For example: If a new game comes out and you want to build a community based on it, a forum would be acceptable. You can use adwords to gain visitors (it is probably more reasonably priced than you think)

Some other communities allow posting links to your forum. I have a "Visit my website" forum for people to use to draw traffic to their site.

 

If it's a blog then post part of it or give insight on it then post your link with it.

 

If your product or service solves a certain problem it might be worth searching the forum for posts on the topic. As long as the posts aren't that old you can usualy post to them in a relevant manner.