Forum Marketing Works!

Well I'm glad you're able to generate 10-20 leads a day. That's pretty good. If it's working, keep going on it and see how far it will take you. Yes, it will take work. But everything good takes work. Plus you'll learn the method completely when you put in the time and sweat.

Congrats! Great that forum marketing works for you. Keep it up.

I've been thinking about the concept of forum marketing, and its good to hear that it worked for you. Haven't attempted anything of the sort yet (only new here, and to IM), but I'm curious as to how you approached marketing your site in a forum.

Did you simply post an ad of sorts in relevant forums (many people seem to attempt this, but I don't see it working very well), or did you actually work it into your forum posts in a relevant and meaningful way (which is how I'd approach it, although it would of course be a lot more work)? Or is there another way that I'm missing?

Cheers!

I've learned that forum marketing does work. I haven't really tracked a daily amount
of visitors but it's very highly targeted traffic.

I guess my biggest hurdle is finding forums in my niche that allow signatures, as many don't. I don't even bother posting in those forums; I'm offering advice, the least I can get is a signature link!!

10-20 leads is more than most people manage in a lifetime. You have beaten the majority. You've taken action. Congrats and keep doing what you're doing.

Forum marketing works. Best example - Warrior Forum. Why do you think experienced members put links in their signatures? It simply works. The best method of course is too make relevant posts, build up a reputation. Yes, it takes time, and no, forum autoresponder will not make it autopilot. You have to be there, see what people are saying, reply to their posts with good information. After you've become known on a forum, people know you're for real, only then there's any worth in posting/buying an ad. Do it too early and every regular member will know you're there to squeeze money out of them (and as far as I'm concerned, the regular members are the ones that matter, they can be your regular customers). Take your time, do your due diligence, and it will pay off.

Interestingly enough, posting high quality on Forums really does not work. What really makes Forum Marketing work is the HYPE. You will attract the masses on hype and not on genuine posts. People think those posts are boring and unsatisfying, ironically.

The main mistake people do is just put their affiliate link up on their signature or anything contextual. That, in my experience, does not work at all. I have learned and important lesson when it comes to psychology. Most people won't do the action unless you specifically tell them what to do. So the best approach is instead of passively showing your banner or link, is to engage the user by doing a little, but not actual, opt-in, by telling them to message you. Then just reply back to them your landing page. The conversion rate I was getting was very high (50%), and people actually did the offer amazingly.

So basically, be direct and tell the people exactly what you want them to do, and they will usually do it no questions asked. I can tell you that if you mastered this, there is alot of potential, and you can possibly make $100's a day by just messaging people.

XtremeCash, that makes a lot of sense. Haven't thought of it that way before, so kudos.

True, it's about psychology. The whole marketing game is about psychology and numbers. You need to get to the biggest possible number of interested people, and then interest them in taking your offer. Most people want to have clear instructions. Most people are lazy. That's why WSOs sell so well (well, some of them). People want to be told what to do, and many times it matters more to them than actually doing anything.

One thing I will not agree on though. It's not that the genuine posts are boring and unsatisfying. It's in the delivery.

Thanks Norfolk.

I have just honestly never had success writing "quality" posts contrary to what most people believe because "quality" does not suit the masses. The masses is what you want to target of course because a lead is a lead. What you want to really do is make multiple threads around the Forum, and make sure it is an active one. You want to create the most hype in the most surface area possible. Gather pms, and reply back, and people will do the offer or lead regardless of how lame it is, because they will think it is "private" or that you are doing them a service (which you could be). You could also collect emails if the person is responsive, who knows.

The point of all of this, is instead of plastering your passive links out, you engage directly with the people, and thus your conversion rates will soar, which is the ultimate goal. I know for a fact putting affiliate links or banners on the web that I can get thousands of clicks and no leads, because there is no real motivation or path that the potential client to the merchant follows.

So, back to my original point, you need to be direct to your suscribers, or else you will not get direct results. I just never have been able to comprehend passive leads. There is no guarantee or substance to it.

as a rule of thumb, any method that involves actually communicating with people works if you do it properly. so many internet marketers seem determined to avoid doing any real work, focusing on "buying" facebook friends from scam artists instead.

The autopilot part of Forum Marketing is kind of like outsourcing with a twist.

Find somebody active on the forum that doesn't make stupid posts. Send them a private message asking them if they want to make a quick buck by doing nothing, of course they'll say yes and ask how. This is where you tell them that if they put your link in their forum signature you'll pay them $xx.00 to their paypal account OR if you would prefer, you can explain to them the whole process of what the link does and tell them that you'll pay them as an affiliate and every lead that you get from their link you'll pay them xx%. This way might actually be better because they will TRY to advertise it knowing that they're getting paid for every lead.

Congrats man you're lucky

Of course forum marketing works. There is a whole WSO section which makes people serious bank. It's just people, and being able to attract people, and get them to take the actions you want.

You should create a sig file and have it start working for you here.

OP is right, I have to agree, the reason forum sigs and blog commenting work is because :-

1) There are lots of high traffic sites that house many passionate people.

2) These people are consistently looking for info to help them or to keep them ahead of the average person.

3) They are willing to spend money, even in a CRAPPY economy.

Again it reiterates the fact that....

TARGETED TRAFFIC ROCKS!!, and will bring you in the most subsrcribers, more results and more profits for you.

But none of this will ever just HAPPEN, if you do Not Take Action!!

Taking action is the most important thing to all this. That is what gets results, and drives you to take more action, and get more results.

Hi:

That's great!

Maybe you can launch a wso later :-)

I'm new to IM, how do you do forum marketing without being kicked?

Forum marketing is one of my FAVORITE methods of promoting sites. Yes, it can take a bit of time each day - depending on how many posts you're making. And your traffic usually isn't massive. However, it's ridiculously targeted and well worth the time.

I think if you find the right forum, relevant to your need, then it would be very profitable as long as you dont come off as a spammer.