I am launching a forum in the next few weeks which is slightly different from the usual forum, I dont want to give much away, or the genre of the forum but looking for some "different" ideas for promoting it. There will be a launch competition where the first member to reach 5000 posts will be rewarded with a prize related to the forum worth £1000 and several runners up prizes around the £50-100 region. So I would like some different, even crazy ideas to market the site and would appreciate any suggestions other than post on other forums/directories/blogs etc.
The forum is health and beauty related, though more beauty than health and any health aspects are beauty based anyway.
Start a health and beauty channel on youtube, yahoo video, break, dailymotion,,, For something like that, I really recommend posting videos on break.com. Once a month or so they will send out a news letter with links to the hottest women on break. Instead of "just" videos, you can upload images to break as well. So if you upload some good content, there is a chance you could be included in one of the Break.com news letters. Contest are sort term solutions to a long term problem. Once the money and prizes are gone, a lot of people pack up and leave. From my personal experiences, contest are more trouble then they are worth.
The forum does have a lot of unique aspects which will make people less likely to abandon it after the prizes have gone as there will be still a lot happening on it.
1. Library Bulletin Boards - Every single library I've been too usually have a bulletin board where you can post your business card, postcard or flyer. Check back often, this is an inexpensive way to get your services seen. 2. Offer a freebie. People love free stuff especially if it helps them solve a problem or be more effective in the business and life. Another good marketing technique is to provide a freebie that people can only get from your site. 3. Hole a contet. People like to win things. I think it has something to do with our natural competitiveness and the ego boost we get at having beaten out everyone else for the prize. 4. Get Viral. Viral marketing is the art of using social networks to get other people to willingly pass your message around. Your natural reaction may be to think of getting your article to the front page of Digg or to get reviewed by Slashdot but having that happen is one of the benefits of viral marketing.