Business As Usual Message Board

Sherie’s Tips for Effective Forum Advertising

In my experience with advertising on online forums, I’ve learned a few things that can save you time and make the most of using forums as an effective method of getting your business out there.  First, READ THE RULES.  Most forums have specific boards for posting ads, some require a minimum number of posts before you place an ad, and most require you to register and at least post an introduction first.  Next, when you register, ALWAYS PUT YOUR LINK IN YOUR SIGNATURE.  Sometimes you may be in a hurry to just register and get your ad posted, but it’s worth it to take the time to create a signature with your link in it.  That way, even if you never visit that particular forum again, you still have your link posted, and your link will be in every post you make, not just in your ad.  That’s valuable free advertising, so take advantage of it!  Another good thing to do is try to USE THE SAME USERNAME FOR EVERY FORUM.  By using the same name, others will recognize you and get to know you, and are then more likely to buy from you or join your company under you.  This is also why you should pick a few forums that interest you to be more active in, and not just use for posting ads.  You’ll notice that many of the same people are on a lot of the forums you join, and by being an active participant in some of them others will see the personal side of you, and you won’t be just an anonymous name that they see “spamming” every forum.  Obviously, you can’t be active on all of the forums you join, but people will appreciate the effort they see you make in getting to know them on the forums you do have time to be active in.  And finally, an avatar will usually be remembered more than a name, so by using the same avatar you will be even more likely to be recognized among different forums.  Good luck, and happy posting!