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Promoting in groups that discourage self-promotion

by devonhg
18 replies
Hi there! Newb question.

I've joined a few facebook groups and subreddits that my target audience frequently visits.

I'm regularly interacting with people in these places and providing value.

My question is, what is the best way to approach promoting my website and/or products when these communities look down upon self promotion?

Thanks!
#discourage #groups #promoting #selfpromotion
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    That sounds difficult if it's frowned upon. Can you maybe connect with people Individually on Facebook messenger or Skype then when the time is right give them the link to your site?
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    • Profile picture of the author devonhg
      That might be possible, but of course I don't want to intrude on people. It's definitely something I'll do when it's appropriate.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by devonhg View Post

    Hi there! Newb question.

    I've joined a few facebook groups and subreddits that my target audience frequently visits.

    I'm regularly interacting with people in these places and providing value.

    My question is, what is the best way to approach promoting my website and/or products when these communities look down upon self promotion?

    Thanks!
    This is all about branding branding branding. If you have a blog ENSURE the user name you use in the groups is the author of content.. those that want more will seek it, meaning they will search your name. ENSURE your facebook page points people in the right direction. Give give give and then post an ad of sorts towards your monetized effort. basic premiss is give and at some point without expectation you will recieve
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    • Profile picture of the author devonhg
      This makes sense, and is basically what I'm doing right now.

      Something I'm going to start doing is preceding my posts with "I was working on my blog when..." then proceed to the post. This way i'm signaling that I have content, but I'm not directly linking it or shoving it in peoples faces.

      Then like you said, if they want more they can visit my profile.
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  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    Start by seeing if signatures are allowed and use one to link to your site if they are. Aside from that, strive to constantly provide value and if you have a non-commercial article somewhere that is on your site (perhaps on a blog), many places will allow you to link to that if it helps answer a question and especially if you disclose that you wrote it or that it is on your own website.

    Something like, "I hope the moderators allow this because it definitely answers all of your questions. I wrote a piece called [link]xxxxxxxxx[/link] that should help you a lot. Nothing for sale in the article, just helpful information."

    Then, they either allow it or not. If they don't you can tell that the place is far more interested in sticking to arbitrary rules than actually helping people.

    I swear, some places wouldn't allow the world's greatest authority to link to something if he owned the website it was on (something that separates the real information websites from the wannabees, incidentally). More often than not, moderators use rules as a substitute for using their brains.
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    • Profile picture of the author devonhg
      Good stuff! This is the direction that I'm going, just immersing myself in the groups, bringing genuine value, and making my profile a conversion point to send people to my site.

      I have no products for sale right now, or even ads. I'm focused on aimply building my audience.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by dave_hermansen View Post

      I swear, some places wouldn't allow the world's greatest authority to link to something if he owned the website it was on (something that separates the real information websites from the wannabees, incidentally). More often than not, moderators use rules as a substitute for using their brains.
      If the WF is any indicator, the number of links from true authorities or experts are few and far between. The vast majority are simply self-promotional and link to thin articles or generic points that have already been covered in the thread.

      Also, a forum is more than just a Q&A service - it's a platform for discussion. It's pretty difficult to hold a coherent discussion if members are being sent offsite to refer to any salient points. There are exceptions, but in general, it would be more helpful to members and more respectful to the forum if responses were to be detailed in the thread, allowing all members to read and respond.
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      • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        If the WF is any indicator, the number of links from true authorities or experts are few and far between. The vast majority are simply self-promotional and link to thin articles or generic points that have already been covered in the thread.

        Also, a forum is more than just a Q&A service - it's a platform for discussion. It's pretty difficult to hold a coherent discussion if members are being sent offsite to refer to any salient points. There are exceptions, but in general, it would be more helpful to members and more respectful to the forum if responses were to be detailed in the thread, allowing all members to read and respond.
        .
        Well, I did not name WF, specifically and for sure, there are a ton of spammy, worthless things being linked-to here and everywhere else. That said, whether it is this or any other forum, I think moderators need to actually go to something that is linked-to first and see if it is truly helpful to the topic being discussed. Nobody should be copying and pasting their 3,000 word article here or anywhere else because of an arbitrary rule. It sure wouldn't be the greatest practice for SEO, to say the least.

        People can click on a link and read the content there as easy as they can read it on a forum (and it will certainly be formatted better in its original format, including images). And, of course, one has to question why it is only a problem linking to something you are affiliated with but it is NOT a problem taking people away from the forum with a link as long as you are not affiliated with it. (That definitely seems to counter your suggestion that the content needs to exist on the forum.)

        In other words, common sense and a scintilla of effort needs to apply. There have been plenty of constructive discussions in this forum, for example, that started off with a link to an article somewhere and a discussion about the things outlined in that article.

        Finally, as many can attest to that have been here long enough, most of the best authorities in this industry were once a part of this forum and have left for a wide variety of reasons.
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  • Profile picture of the author hwerd
    I'm part of a few groups and have seen some extra-hungry acolytes try to do this.

    It's a free market, and if you're going to go that route do what everyone else does:

    1. Optimize your profile as a first-point funnel. Talk about who you are and why they should give a hoot.

    2. Leverage the list of followers of the group and add them as friends (put them a separate list to keep track), personalize a message about who you are and why you want to connect (make it innocuous and show a genuine interest -- you'll probably get a lot of great personal growth out of it anyways).

    3. Look up ways to extract group data (I think a lot of those routes have been closed).
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    • Profile picture of the author devonhg
      Great info! It definitely seems I'm thinking along the right lines.

      My plan is to play with this for a while to acclimate myself to the market, then start putting some money into ads.
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  • Profile picture of the author InternetMarketingMadeEZ
    You can refer to the following 5-steps FB prospecting formula:

    1. REACH OUT TO YOUR LEADS. Private message active members who are interested or looking for products/opportunities.

    2. FOCUS THE TOPIC ON THEM. Ask about them and their interests and never spam them with your links.

    3. BUILD RAPPORT. Genuinely talk to them as if they are your friend and try to find some common grounds.

    4. ASK FOR PERMISSION TO SHARE. Once the rapport has been built, ask them if you can share your business opportunity.

    5. CALL FOR ACTION. Give them a reason to look into your products or join your team and if they are interested, send them your link.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Something like, "I hope the moderators allow this because it definitely answers all of your questions. I wrote a piece called [link]xxxxxxxxx[/link] that should help you a lot. Nothing for sale in the article, just helpful information."
    Are you serious?

    This is like going around with a "spammer" sign around your neck.

    I swear, some places wouldn't allow the world's greatest authority to link to something if he owned the website it was on (something that separates the real information websites from the wannabees, incidentally). More often than not, moderators use rules as a substitute for using their brains.
    More spammer mentality.

    FFS!!

    Brent
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  • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
    Why not just accept that you maybe you shouldn't look for a work-around, or cheat-around?

    Just a thought.
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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by devonhg View Post

    Hi there! Newb question.

    I've joined a few facebook groups and subreddits that my target audience frequently visits.

    I'm regularly interacting with people in these places and providing value.

    My question is, what is the best way to approach promoting my website and/or products when these communities look down upon self promotion?

    Thanks!
    IF, you truly provide value, members of a group will give a small attempt to find out about you, they search Facebook first (cause they are there) and then Google or Bing.

    It is a good reason to use your real name, have a Facebook page with your real name and to have a web site registered in your real name, so when they do Google you, something comes up.

    The admin of any given community may not want the self promotion, but fact is, that is why most people participate. The more VALUE you give, the more likely they are to search you out. Quit trying to game the group, and really, really add value.

    GordonJ
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    • Profile picture of the author devonhg
      Valuable reply.

      To be clear, I'm not trying to "game" the groups. I apologize if that is what it looks like.

      I've found that I know very valuable information and knowlege relevant to my niche, and this has been further proven by my participation in the groups where my posts regularly a fair number of really positive responses.

      Being able to connect with my audience...done.

      Next up, I was trying to conceptualize what the next step is. You guys have all provided valuable insight.
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  • Profile picture of the author Carrier2019
    This is what I do on Facebook groups that are locked up - I mean that are administrated for your post to be approved.

    As REDDIT does not allow me to post, all I do with FB is to write a great post with linked articles - sources. When I am done, I will post it there.

    Upon doing that, I will go to the admin and PM him for an approval. This is what I usually type..

    Hey [admin name] I just posted an article in your group, please assess it if it is worth approving and if yes, thank you.

    My last post followed suit and I gathered the best traffic there. So, you can do same.

    However it is not a guarantee but there is no LOSS in trying after all, Pains is better than feeling NOTHING.
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  • Profile picture of the author techwizard
    Did you ask the admins about it? Most of groups admins will usually accept it if you offer them something.


    Otherwise you can connect with each person privately (try to not spam everyone with your link) and see if your offer/service can help them.


    Good luck!
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