Marketing a Marijuana Forum?

I just opened a new forum, and I am not sure what would be the best way to market it?

I was thinking of having a news section, where I can post related news, which will help with SEO.

I also wrote some original recipes for the site too, will that help?

I am worried since the forums are so small right now no one will join, how do I get it off the ground?

 

I don't think using Adwords, etc would be very successful because its promoting a illegal drug :\

 

I would suggest you submit your site to numerous social bookmarking site to gain more traffic

 

Mentos is right, def work really hard on spreading the news about the site...especially social networks where you'll find your niche audience... It could definitely work.

Does anyone remember overgrow[com]? They were huge, like digitalpoint forums for ganja growing. They did get shutdown, courts and all. Im sure he made some nice loot with the traffic though.

 

Perhaps write a press release for this site? I'm sure you could write some real interesting stuff about it.

 

make a how to video for the recipes and put on youtube.

 

Give free samples and spread the words against it to the public.

 

The YouTube video idea suggested above is good. Also have you thought of advertising on High Times?

 

I want a sample

 

Where are they giving them ?

 

Tell Your Dealer. He's bound to have loads of contacts interested in such a forum

Seriously though, I don't think many sites will take advertisemnets from you, so word of mouth and social marketing will be key.

 

Don't don't believe how well blog articles work when getting people to your site. Just try it

 

yeah, I'll join if you give free samples

 

there are already a lot of mary jane forums. Try joining those and making a link in your sig.

 

send me a pm mate I wanna check this out

 

I think free samples attached to a business card would be very successful but the cost per user/vister would be too high for most. try advertising on myspace, blogs, other pro-THC forums, and the content specific youtube video would work.

 

It's not illegal in every country. Target your marketing and SEO towards countries that have liberal laws, or where it is just down right legal, with english speaking citizens.

Canada and The Netherlands come to mind

 

there are a lot of other drug related sites that you can buy banner spots off of. I think the youtube idea is actually really good and you can get thousands of free hits from it. good luck

 

get more back links and hire some free lance forum posters.

 

I am using affilate ads soon, I get 15% of sales usually, so hopefully I can do that?

I am writing more recipes and news articles, and submiting them to digg, reddit, stumbleupon, etc.