Need tips to market a forum.

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by donald, Jan 7, 2007.

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  1. #1
    The topic say it all!
    post good tips about how to market a forum from the beginning. (getting users to signup, etc... )
     
    donald, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  2. Kel

    Kel Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Promote it any way you can. Signature links are always handy. Post on free advertising forums. Im struggling promoting mine at the moment too and its fairly new. I guess we will just have to give everything a go and see what happens ;)

    Try to exchange some links with sites with a similar niche :)
     
    Kel, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  3. patataur

    patataur Peon

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    #3
    if you don't have a website with lots of traffic on a theme similar to that of your forum allowing you to advertise your forum on your site, then you can almost forget your forum.

    starting a forum just by itself is a tough job.
     
    patataur, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  4. Kel

    Kel Well-Known Member

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    #4
    It is a tough job but it is possible. It all depends on how hard your willing to work for it :)
     
    Kel, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  5. donald

    donald Active Member

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    #5
    My forum is brand new, very few posts here and there.
    It's a very specific forum but I'm trying to make it more general.

    most of my traffic come from wikipedia but the forum is pretty empty so people don't stay. I thought to use postonmyforum service or either to open up money prize contest, but my budget is very low.
     
    donald, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  6. sachin410

    sachin410 Illustrious Member

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    #6
    Getting new members to post on an inactive forum is nearly impossible.

    You have three options - ask friends to post on your forum and make it active; or create multiple ids and post; or use paid posting.
     
    sachin410, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  7. soccerfriend

    soccerfriend Well-Known Member

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    #7
    depends on the topic if it is a topic that people are willing to talk about then it has a chance...
     
    soccerfriend, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  8. Kel

    Kel Well-Known Member

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    #8
    IMO wait until you have a decent amount of members before starting a contest. I wish I had because after my contest has ended I doubt I will have many "real" members left.

    Make up some fake accounts and make some posts yourself to make your forum look busy and then people will be more inclined to stay. Or you can pay people to make a few posts in your forums to make it a little more active. :)
     
    Kel, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  9. donald

    donald Active Member

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    #9
    thanks for your advice. I'll catch up later on...I'm going...
     
    donald, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  10. 010081

    010081 Banned

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    #10
    3 best things
    1.signature
    2.yahoo groups,myspave,hi5 groups (join groups for your niche)
    3.directory submission.
     
    010081, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  11. jasondinner

    jasondinner Peon

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    #11
    Join Russell Brunsons Conquer Your Niche Forum.

    He made it viral by offering upgraded membership as a
    OneTimeOffer when people join the site and has made
    some great promotion tools for affiliates that will drive
    traffic to the site.

    I've made almost $1K driving traffic to the site bc of
    how it's set up.

    Here's the link so you can study it:
    conqueryourniche.com/forum

    Jason
     
    jasondinner, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  12. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #12
    Some tips that I've used before,

    Use Adwords to advertise for your main keywords before you get ranked for them
    Get some good quality paid posting to make you forum look active
    Appoint some knowledgeable and friendly mods
    Offer prizes/rewards for best thread/most posts
    Montly newsletters to encorage lapsed members to return
    Link to your forum though sig links in other forums
     
    MattUK, Jan 7, 2007 IP