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Effectiveness of Message Board/Forum Marketing

by Strasburgo
11 replies
Aside from the WSO board of course...

I mean people that post in non-IM forums with sigs in their links.

On my other forums, a few years back clothing companies were offering affiliate links to any and everybody who posted in online forums.

The message board member would put the link in their signature, and the idea was that other members would click those links, go to those stores, and buy t-shirts.

Does anyone know if those were effective campaigns outside of the IM niche?

Thanks,
Stras
#board or forum #effectiveness #marketing #message
  • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
    Originally Posted by Strasburgo View Post

    Aside from the WSO board of course...

    I mean people that post in non-IM forums with sigs in their links.

    On my other forums, a few years back clothing companies were offering affiliate links to any and everybody who posted in online forums.

    The message board member would put the link in their signature, and the idea was that other members would click those links, go to those stores, and buy t-shirts.

    Does anyone know if those were effective campaigns outside of the IM niche?

    Thanks,
    Stras

    Two challenges here...

    One is that it's hard to find really active boards with lots of members to get the numbers that would make it worth your while, and the other is that some of the best boards won't allow affiliate links or even commercial links (or ANY links for that matter).

    Then again, depending on your niche, you can always try it as a supplement. Just don't rely on it for your entire income...
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    • Profile picture of the author talfighel
      All I know is that it is weird to go to a work at home business forum and then post a link in your own signature file about clothing.

      There are a lot of forums out there in any niche that get a ton of traffic each day. I would never go to a clothing forum for example and post a "home business" link there.

      Although this may work. You never know. I am kind of on the fence here.

      Originally Posted by wordwizard View Post


      One is that it's hard to find really active boards with lots of members to get the numbers that would make it worth your while, and the other is that some of the best boards won't allow affiliate links or even commercial links (or ANY links for that matter).
      You can always create your own page and a product review of your own if they don't allow affiliate links and still do well.
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      • Profile picture of the author Mindstorms
        Certain niches (hobby niches for example in which I am a vendor) with heavy enthusiasts participation in the forum, using signatures is very good exposure for the business. However, I still consider this form of marketing secondary or icing on the cake as you don't have full control.

        I still use other channels i.e. PPCs, media buys, and I consider them my primary source of traffic (again, the 'control' reason.)

        As far as doing affiliate marketing goes, I much rather have the relationship with the traffic/people I got before sending them out to other offers (more like my backends)

        Mike
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        • Profile picture of the author Strasburgo
          Originally Posted by Mindstorms View Post

          Certain niches (hobby niches for example in which I am a vendor) with heavy enthusiasts participation in the forum, using signatures is very good exposure for the business. However, I still consider this form of marketing secondary or icing on the cake as you don't have full control.

          I still use other channels i.e. PPCs, media buys, and I consider them my primary source of traffic (again, the 'control' reason.)
          So in your opinion, this is more of a low return strategy for selling forum members things that the forum is about.

          To extrapolate, an offer for 6 pack abs/Dog Training, in a World of Warcraft forum by a respected member of the forum would be even less of a return.

          Originally Posted by Mindstorms View Post

          As far as doing affiliate marketing goes, I much rather have the relationship with the traffic/people I got before sending them out to other offers (more like my backends)

          Mike
          My experience has been that "outsiders" that come into a forum to sell something were treated harshly or worse yet, ignored. I think that's well understood. (although I wonder if just offering the opportunity to buy was good for a few conversions...)

          But, In my experience, insiders, regular contributors to a forum, well respected members, didn't get the sales guy treatment. It was generally an unobtrusive sig in a link with no real effort to "sell". Very low investment for affiliate and for non-affiliate forum members.

          From the Vendor's pov, I wonder if that worked at all.

          Your insight has been very valuable, thank you.

          Stras
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      • Profile picture of the author Strasburgo
        Originally Posted by talfighel View Post

        All I know is that it is weird to go to a work at home business forum and then post a link in your own signature file about clothing.

        There are a lot of forums out there in any niche that get a ton of traffic each day. I would never go to a clothing forum for example and post a "home business" link there.

        Although this may work. You never know. I am kind of on the fence here.



        You can always create your own page and a product review of your own if they don't allow affiliate links and still do well.
        My experience has been vastly different than yours. I go to about 5 different message boards daily, 1) sports related, 2) music related, 3) style related, 4) travel related. 5) Profession related (although WF is now #1)

        It's not uncommon at all to see a person interested in topic A, and having a website/link that points to topic Z.

        Mature boards tend to develop a community, and the bulk of that community often migrates to an off topic sub-board.

        For example, Halo player message board members will start out in the strategy sections. Over time they start to demonstrate some personality, forge bonds with other members, and those conversations invariably stray away from the game of Halo.

        Most message boards recognize this and have a "off topic" or a "general discussion", "the lounge", board. And once you break out of the constraints of the topics, you start to see lots of things come out of the members.

        It hasn't been uncommon for me to check out the conversation about last night's game, and then see that one of my favorite posters just opened a new consulting firm. Or a member also has a band and a cd he wants to sell.

        That's at least my reality. I'm sure other people have noticed that as well. Warrior Forum, imo, is unusually focused on IM. Indeed, the way most of these posts are written, people seem to be calling prospects with one hand and doing keyword research with the other.

        All that being said, for Corporations who've tried to take advantage of this natural behavior, has it been effective?

        that's all I'm asking. Hopefully some of you guys who've tried to ape these corporate strategies have some insight.

        Stras
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        • Profile picture of the author talfighel
          Originally Posted by Strasburgo View Post

          My experience has been vastly different than yours. I go to about 5 different message boards daily, 1) sports related, 2) music related, 3) style related, 4) travel related. 5) Profession related (although WF is now #1)
          This may work and I will try it out too. I think you may be right. Maybe it is time to change things and see if this works.
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    • Profile picture of the author Strasburgo
      Originally Posted by wordwizard View Post

      Two challenges here...

      One is that it's hard to find really active boards with lots of members to get the numbers that would make it worth your while, and the other is that some of the best boards won't allow affiliate links or even commercial links (or ANY links for that matter).

      Then again, depending on your niche, you can always try it as a supplement. Just don't rely on it for your entire income...
      The logistics are probably difficult (message boards are dying as a result of facebook/twitter and blogs), but I'm wondering about the efficacy.

      Was that sort of thing effective outside of IM (where we've come to expect it and look for it)

      Thanks,
      Stras
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    It is VERY effective if you do it right. It all boils down to ENGAGEMENT. You can boost your engagement levels by posting in a methodical way. Here is a good breakdown of what you need to do to SUCCEED IN FORUM MARKETING: Secrets To Effective Forum Posting | free website traffic
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    • Profile picture of the author Strasburgo
      Originally Posted by icoachu View Post

      It is VERY effective if you do it right. It all boils down to ENGAGEMENT. You can boost your engagement levels by posting in a methodical way. Here is a good breakdown of what you need to do to SUCCEED IN FORUM MARKETING: Secrets To Effective Forum Posting | free website traffic
      You misunderstood my question.

      I know that I can sell products on forums that I am a part of.

      However, I'm not interested in joining the All My Children message board to sell "home business courses for stay-at-home Dads".

      I'm not asking about how to do it, or how I could do it... In no way is that in the OP.

      But what has the efficacy been of these kinds of campaigns?
      How effective has this kind of marketing been?
      When done "right" have people gotten good results from this?

      I've seen it done by well heeled physical product businesses - I just don't know if they are effective.

      In the case of Gilt, they got a critical mass of users, and basically started a trend of "flash sale" websites that are doing decent business from what I gather. But Karmaloop, as far as I know, is still just another e-commerce version of Urban Outfitters.

      The role of forum marketing is the issue that I am concerned with.

      Strasburgo
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      • Profile picture of the author icoachu
        Originally Posted by Strasburgo View Post

        You misunderstood my question.

        I know that I can sell products on forums that I am a part of.

        However, I'm not interested in joining the All My Children message board to sell "home business courses for stay-at-home Dads".

        I'm not asking about how to do it, or how I could do it... In no way is that in the OP.

        But what has the efficacy been of these kinds of campaigns?
        How effective has this kind of marketing been?
        When done "right" have people gotten good results from this?

        I've seen it done by well heeled physical product businesses - I just don't know if they are effective.

        In the case of Gilt, they got a critical mass of users, and basically started a trend of "flash sale" websites that are doing decent business from what I gather. But Karmaloop, as far as I know, is still just another e-commerce version of Urban Outfitters.

        The role of forum marketing is the issue that I am concerned with.

        Strasburgo
        Ah, thanks for clarifying. It's effective as a means to diversify traffic. Here are my stats:



        The red dots indicate forum boosts. As for metrics-these are for direct boosts. There are indirect effects since many forum members are also on FB and Twitter and also blog. The key is to focus on your BRAND and have it develop a life of its own. Before then, keep doing periodic forum boosts using engaging content.
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  • Profile picture of the author zdan06
    Can be effective in a way that you have chance in getting web traffic, but it doesn't mean that every visitors click on those signature links to buy stuff on a certain site. A probable percentage may be viable only if those links appears in the body AND that the discussions is related to a certain topic or interest.
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