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Getting a Forum Going - How?

by OKFarmgirl
4 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I've got a forum mocked up on my site with no input at all. I'm wondering how to go about getting a forum going - my traffic is pretty minimal just now, like <100 per day, but most of them are there because they want to be. I realize this is a very busy forum, but how does it START? How do you get people in dialog to boost user generated content for SEO?
#forum
  • Profile picture of the author warner444
    I would try promoting on as many social networks as possible. Some people outsource people to write in forums. Its kind of like when you drive by a restaurant and see a lot of cars in the parking lot you are more likely to try it.

    You could join other related forums and have a link to your forum in your signature.

    I would also pose your same question about how to generate traffic and members for a forum in several webmaster, seo, copywriting, and marketing forums so you can learn as much as possible. You will find someone who has been where you are now and built up their forum. They can provide invaluable insight. Make sure you have your sig file loaded.

    As time goes by spammers will create links there. Some people leave them since the spammers usually build links to the forum profile.

    Good luck. I wish I had 20% of the cash this forum makes. Forums can be good platforms for all sorts of additional business, and if they know you, like you, and trust you they will buy from you.
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    Warm Regards, - Warner Carter Twitter ~ Facebook ~
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Okay, don't make the same mistake 99% of the forums starting out make. DON'T START YOUR FORUM WITHOUT AN EMAIL LIST.

    If you're getting DECENT traffic, when I say decent, you should be aiming to have 50 visitors a day, and continue trying to double it in the long run. If you have that right now, you should have an email list people have opted in. Do you have that?

    Once you build your email list up, to maybe 500 users, you can launch your forum.

    If that is not an option, then you can speed up the process by using facebook and twitter to drive more traffic to your site, and launch your forum using social media marketing to back it up.

    I have started numerous forums in various niches. I started one forum off, and had 15,000 members in a year and a half. I started another one off, and had 200 in less than 2 hours. To launch a forum, you will need at least 20 very active users.
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  • Profile picture of the author dtommy79
    Go to sites like fiverr or zeerk, there are people there who are willing to post on your forum for a few bucks. It's not the best solution but it's a start.

    Also try to add some useful content, tutorials etc. and submit them to bookmarking sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author OKFarmgirl
    I have a newsletter opt-in, but only about a dozen people (some family members) subscribed. I think I may take down the forum until the site gets busier. My articles are already ranking on the first page or two of Google, so hopefully things will start to pick up soon.
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