Promoting A Forum

After getting a few websites up and running, I have been thinking about doing a forum. I believe its a fairly good topic that seems to have a somewhat scarce amount of online based communities.

However, I am wondering how I can get a forum off its feet. It seems as though it will be hard to get members in the beginning with little to offer.

 

I've always wondered the same thing. Without any users it has to be hard to get new users. I'm curious to see if anyone comes up with anything good.

 

Hire paid posters.

 

Well I'm not a forum expert, but I put together this article which might help:

http://internetmarketingsucks.com/blog/2007/07/24/starting-a-forum-tips-from-an-expert/

 

I have came across hundreds of forums that appear to be empty. As Fewleftstanding already suggested, paid posters to get content there and make your forum feel alive should be your initial step. As time goes on you should start building momentum assuming you have any natural traffic.

 

I think, easier steps would be:

1. Get a good product to sell
2. Offer support through forum
3. Slowly convert that forum into bigger forum by adding more relevant sections.

I am at step 2

 

1. The "niche" that I am in is extremely professional/specific however there is an audience. A paid poster wouldn't prove much benefit.

2. This isn't the type of thing I can create a product for.

 

Getting the forum some sort of SEO software such as vBseo or zoints.

Get some good back links, and rank for small keywords to start with, and get bigger slowly.

Also get some paid users to make good topics, that can get the forum going.

 

Don't know if this might help you or not But if there is something you can take ideas from then check it here: Promoting a forum

Thanks.

 

Although it may sound cliched,

1. Try traffic exchanges
2. Advertise extensively using sig links
3. Word of mouth
4. Add real quality content
5. Hire some cheap posters to get the forums up and running
6. Best of luck !

 

Use the forum as a blog and keep posting fresh content everyday.

Continue with your offsite SEO.

If your visitors notice that you have good grip on your subject, many may join to discuss further.

This strategy worked very well for me. .

 

Well, if you are an expert inside your niche, just start posting alone in your new forum, and try to promote links to your forum.

Sooner or later new users will show up.