Forum marketing?

9 years ago

Originally Posted by dog8food

How do people successfullyte drive traffic from forums?

Does it have to do with members on the forum, or are you more likely to get traffic from your post showing up on google, etc?

First of all, you need to find the main forum that everyone uses in your niche because traffic matters. Secondly, you need to make relevant and insightful comments and responses to peoples' questions. Thirdly, you need to have a signature that makes people want to check it out, but you can't actually direct people to your signature. Does that make sense? Very often, you can't use affiliate links in your signature. In other words, you have to link to a landing page that then takes the people to what you want them to check out.

Joey

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mustaqins

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Miguelito203

Thirdly, you need to have a signature that makes people want to check it out, but you can't actually direct people to your signature. Does that make sense?

Not to me, sorry. I am confused about what you are trying to say??

Thanks
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Mark Singletary 9 years ago

You can't say "check out the link in my signature" or do anything to self promote. Let your quality posts, your reputation, your helpfulness, etc. drive people to want to click the link in your signature.

Mark

Originally Posted by mustaqins

Not to me, sorry. I am confused about what you are trying to say??
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Tom Reed

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Miguelito203

First of all, you need to find the main forum that everyone uses in your niche because traffic matters. Secondly, you need to make relevant and insightful comments and responses to peoples' questions. Thirdly, you need to have a signature that makes people want to check it out, but you can't actually direct people to your signature. Does that make sense? Very often, you can't use affiliate links in your signature. In other words, you have to link to a landing page that then takes the people to what you want them to check out.

Joey

As you've stated, affiliate links in the signatures have been pretty much universally banned but there are ways to slip your affiliate link back into your signature if you have the right tools in your bag.

In some ways it's actually better now because far fewer people are able to do it.

Thanks
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Mark Singletary

9 years ago

Yeah, rules are for suckers with ethics, right?

Mark

Originally Posted by Tom Reed

As you've stated, affiliate links in the signatures have been pretty much universally banned but there are ways to slip your affiliate link back into your signature if you have the right tools in your bag.

In some ways it's actually better now because far fewer people are able to do it.

Thanks
1 reply

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Tom Reed 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

Yeah, rules are for suckers with ethics, right?

Mark

I never said to break the rules, just work around them.

You could easily say that placing your affiliate link on the landing page of your signature violates the spirit of the "no affiliate links" rule since you're really just linking to an affiliate link but you do not have a problem with that I assume?

All I'm talking about is an alternate method that takes advantage of the signature but does not violate the rules of the forum. When you know how to use these methods effectively (few do) then it works even better than the old ways.
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sogeshirts

9 years ago

Step one: Find High Traffic Forums.

Step two: Contribute actual helpful posts relating to the niche of the forum you are on. Don't post for the sake of posting. Give tips and share your experience.

Step three: Have an eye catching signature linking to your blog or squeeze page.

Step Four: Post 5 to ten posts, and try to pop up in the first couple of responses for
each thread. (Yes, I'm doing this right now)

Hope this helps.

Thanks
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dog8food

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sogeshirts

Step one: Find High Traffic Forums.

Step two: Contribute actual helpful posts relating to the niche of the forum you are on. Don't post for the sake of posting. Give tips and share your experience.

Step three: Have an eye catching signature linking to your blog or squeeze page.

Step Four: Post 5 to ten posts, and try to pop up in the first couple of responses for
each thread. (Yes, I'm doing this right now)

Hope this helps.

Hey thanks.

How much traffic can people generate from doing this? I mean, I guess it depends on how many forums you're posting on, but approx. how much traffic can you get from one popular forum?

Thanks
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sogeshirts

9 years ago

Originally Posted by dog8food

Hey thanks.

How much traffic can people generate from doing this? I mean, I guess it depends on how many forums you're posting on, but approx. how much traffic can you get from one popular forum?

If it's a popular forum such as this, you can get enough traffic to get a good number of subscribers or leads. I don't know what product you are promoting (I assume dogfood) but if you have good quality posts forum posting can be quite effective.

Thanks

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Kay King

9 years ago

Quite a few answers to this question here

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...l#post10164389

The way in which you interact on a forum - the relevance and helpfulness of answers you give - the reputation you build as a person ....has more to do with success of forum marketing than anything else.

The viability of the forum also counts. If a forum is filled with bots, paid posters, people with no knowledge/experience/language skills - the quality of any signups or visitors you get declines drastically.

Basically - it's all based on "quality". The quality of your posts makes people curious to learn more so they click your sig link.....the quality of your link determines whether people have an interest or simply click off yet another "squeeze page"....the quality of visitors to your site or product depends on the strength of the forum and the members it attracts.

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dog8food

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

Quite a few answers to this question here

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...l#post10164389

The way in which you interact on a forum - the relevance and helpfulness of answers you give - the reputation you build as a person ....has more to do with success of forum marketing than anything else.

The viability of the forum also counts. If a forum is filled with bots, paid posters, people with no knowledge/experience/language skills - the quality of any signups or visitors you get declines drastically.

Basically - it's all based on "quality". The quality of your posts makes people curious to learn more so they click your sig link.....the quality of your link determines whether people have an interest or simply click off yet another "squeeze page"....the quality of visitors to your site or product depends on the strength of the forum and the members it attracts.

Thanks.

Speaking of quality, I'm assuming the quality (design) of the signature itself matters. I know some forums that don't have strict standards for signatures. I tried looking for "making eye-catching forum signatures" on google, but I didn't really find anything useful.

Are there certain guidelines to follow when making clickable signatures?

Thanks
1 reply

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JohnMcCabe

9 years ago

Originally Posted by dog8food

Thanks.

Speaking of quality, I'm assuming the quality (design) of the signature itself matters. I know some forums that don't have strict standards for signatures. I tried looking for "making eye-catching forum signatures" on google, but I didn't really find anything useful.

Are there certain guidelines to follow when making clickable signatures?

Most of them are common sense.

> Be relevant. For example, I have an ebook on Email Marketing in my sig. Posting in the SEO forum probably isn't going to do me much good.

> Offer value. For example, this is an IM forum. Posting a sig for, say, organic dog food likely won't get you far. Using the same sig on a forum for holistic pet health should work much better.

> Be believable. If your user name and sig suggest you make thousands of dollars a day, and you post questions like "what's the best way to make money online", you blow all credibility. You are much more likely to get abuse (well-earned) than you are clicks.

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myob 9 years ago

Many forum marketing "experts" also say starting new threads is particularly effective for maximizing signature exposure, but at the very least try to be among the first to comment with insight or a bit of delectable controversy.

In addition, post often with relevance, and don't "date" your posts by referring to current trends or events. Posts tend to be dug up often after years of burial, which can be of benefit to marketers with well-planned evergreen comments.

P.S. I haven't needed to use a sig for quite awhile here, because I get a whole lot of targeted publicity from the forum through Google searches. Try googling myob+warrior forum. This is how I've become "Competitors' Nightmare".
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- lgibbon Banned 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by myob
  
  Try googling myob+warrior forum. This is how I've become "Competitors' Nightmare".
  
  Are you quite sure about that?
  The results aren't very flattering.
  
  [ 3 ] Thanks
  
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dog8food

9 years ago

In my case it may be a bit different because I'm trying to advertise my webcomic.
So I'm not really claiming to be any kind of expert, but just funny.
The forums that allow image sigs are great because I can just put a bit of my webcomic on there.

Now I have to figure out which forums would be relevant for me to post on (comedy forums, writing forums...etc)

Thanks

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sega001

9 years ago

It would be best to look for a niche where there are people that you can serve. Once you have discovered what niche you want to serve, then your next option is to research the top forums within that particular niche.

Then you can sign up for that forum and focus mainly on solving problem by providing solutions to the people looking for solutions. You can do this by answering their questions on threads. You can also pay for advertising on that particular blog. Paid traffic is always a great way to drive fast targeted traffic to your product or service.

Thanks

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writeaway

9 years ago

Here are the steps I give to my VAs when instructing them to drive traffic from forums to my niche sites

1) Find forums that are in DIRECTLY OR CLOSELY RELATED niches to the niche I'm promoting

2) Filter the forums based on probable traffic by filtering them through Alexa Site Overview NOTE: This tool isn't too terribly accurate but it's better than taking shots in the dark.

3) Create an account with a relevant AVATAR

4) Participate in discussions and HELP PEOPLE

5) The more you HELP PEOPLE, the more CREDIBLE you become.

6) After you have reached 200 thanks or 500 posts, turn on your signature

There are ways to market that don't involve signatures

The key? FOCUS ON BUILDING CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY

People won't trust you enough to CLICK on your link if they don't find you CREDIBLE and TRUSTWORTHY.

Focus on QUALITY and HELPING OTHERS

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JonathanGutierrez

9 years ago

Originally Posted by writeaway

Here are the steps I give to my VAs when instructing them to drive traffic from forums to my niche sites

1) Find forums that are in DIRECTLY OR CLOSELY RELATED niches to the niche I'm promoting

2) Filter the forums based on probable traffic by filtering them through Alexa Site Overview NOTE: This tool isn't too terribly accurate but it's better than taking shots in the dark.

3) Create an account with a relevant AVATAR

4) Participate in discussions and HELP PEOPLE

5) The more you HELP PEOPLE, the more CREDIBLE you become.

6) After you have reached 200 thanks or 500 posts, turn on your signature

There are ways to market that don't involve signatures

The key? FOCUS ON BUILDING CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY

People won't trust you enough to CLICK on your link if they don't find you CREDIBLE and TRUSTWORTHY.

Focus on QUALITY and HELPING OTHERS

Excellent cheat-sheet. I will bookmark this for later.

You also said "there are ways to market that don't involve signatures." Can you tell us more about this? I'm very interested in this because one of my potential niches doesn't seem to allow forum signatures. I'm sure they've become tired of spammers, but I was pretty bummed out about this. I'm all ears. I think it could actually be quite liberating if it allows you to focus on contributing quality posts without marketing (at least initially, that is).

Thanks

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xnice

9 years ago

Originally Posted by writeaway

Here are the steps I give to my VAs when instructing them to drive traffic from forums to my niche sites

1) Find forums that are in DIRECTLY OR CLOSELY RELATED niches to the niche I'm promoting

2) Filter the forums based on probable traffic by filtering them through Alexa Site Overview NOTE: This tool isn't too terribly accurate but it's better than taking shots in the dark.

3) Create an account with a relevant AVATAR

4) Participate in discussions and HELP PEOPLE

5) The more you HELP PEOPLE, the more CREDIBLE you become.

6) After you have reached 200 thanks or 500 posts, turn on your signature

There are ways to market that don't involve signatures

The key? FOCUS ON BUILDING CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY

People won't trust you enough to CLICK on your link if they don't find you CREDIBLE and TRUSTWORTHY.

Focus on QUALITY and HELPING OTHERS

Great sharing. You will get traffic if people believe you and follow your advice.

Thanks

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Offline Otis

9 years ago

Helpful or interesting posts on facebook. I own a forum and I immediatly get traffic after posting something on facebook. I just did it about 10 minutes ago and got 44 visitors within 5 mins. from the post. Try It!

Thanks

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RobinJennings

9 years ago

This process is really time-consuming, gut-wrenching and it will drive traffic at really low rate unless you make 1000+ posts! Sorry but it's true..

Thanks
1 reply

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Kay King 9 years ago

The forums that allow image sigs are great because I can just put a bit of my webcomic on there.

This forum allows image sigs - but you do have to pay a small fee for the privilege. I would think for your purposes that would be a great investment.
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nasstar

9 years ago

Establish yourself as an authority in the forums with relevant contributions, when you make helpful contributions people would quite easily click to your signature links to see what more you have to offer on your websites.
Make take time but eventually you will get traffic even when you don't make new posts.

Thanks

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RaymondPreble

9 years ago

Post crazy-good content like a mad man and have your link in the signature! if you are doing it right, you should see a spike in your traffic!

Thanks

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najminrahmankoly

9 years ago

I have been using the Forum site to get my site traffic for a long time. I use the best usage forum site about my niche. it is more effective to get good traffic. Most of the time I depends on the Relevant Forum & relevant Blog commenting. These two way I use to get my site traffic. If there are many member of the Forum site, it is a big chance to get more traffic on your site. Thanks

Thanks

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yogibeezy

9 years ago

Find relevant and active forums. Join in the thread make a posts and try to engage in some group.

Thanks
1 reply

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Coloradoskibum 9 years ago

Originally Posted by yogibeezy

Find relevant and active forums. Join in the thread make a posts and try to engage in some group.

Interaction is key. If you don't have something to add to the conversation, you will get outed as a spammer.
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Freebiequeen1999

9 years ago

If someone posts a totally irrelevant post just to be seen, or posts an off topic post or tries to jack their "specialty" or wso into a thread I make a mental note to watch out for them, avoid them, and be ready to laugh at them when their desperation shows. Since I have a photographic memory, remembering them is super simple for me haha

I really think the old forum wisdom is way stale in 2015 - it was old hat ten years ago. Heck there were people on the old services like compuserve and prodigy who got called out for their annoying forum tactics. It is also funny when you see a forum where everyone is trying to sell everyone else. That is as bad as a networking event full of mlm people LOL

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ara67

9 years ago

set up your signature with your links for your products or affiliate, comment on posts but no spamming thought contribute with valuable info and you will get traffic for sure...see what others are doing.....

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stevexavior

9 years ago

firstly find out that famous forums which is related to your website or blog. then comment with some relevant content on post and mensio your signature and put your link in forum profile.

Thanks

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TrumpiaTim

9 years ago

As long as you're posting good content and adding to the community, this should help you pick up some traffic for your website / blog.

Thanks

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Mark Singletary

9 years ago

One thing to be careful of if we want to market to members of a forum is how we interact with others. For example this thread: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ng-online.html

Not too long ago when I was "promoted" to a leadership position in an organization a friend gave me some good advice (I think it applies to sales/marketing too). He said that 1/3 of the people would support me no matter what I did, 1/3 would oppose me no matter what, and 1/3 didn't care or could go either way. Those middle of the road people was who I needed to target to bring to my side.

In the case of this thread, anyone that saw that thread probably came away with an opinion one way or the other especially since it turned a little nasty. According to my friend, up to 66% potentially think you were wrong, disrespectful to someone with 10 times as many thanks as you have posts, etc. 33% may think you were picked on by the self appointed forum moderators and you were in the right.

I bring this up not to take sides but to say that people are taught when buying from forum members to check their posting history amongst other things. In my case, I try to control what I write. Many times I wind up thinking about it and sometimes I even write it out but then delete it. Why? The temporary satisfaction of "winning" an argument isn't worth my long term reputation.

My two cents.

Mark

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1 reply

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mustaqins

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

I bring this up not to take sides but to say that people are taught when buying from forum members to check their posting history amongst other things. In my case, I try to control what I write. Many times I wind up thinking about it and sometimes I even write it out but then delete it. Why? The temporary satisfaction of "winning" an argument isn't worth my long term reputation.

My two cents.

Mark

Posting history, duration of membership, quality of posts, etc

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nicholasb

9 years ago

so to answer your question, most of the traffic will come from inside the forum.. Some Google but mostly from right inside the forum... There are ways to make it work effectively but it's more of a long term play

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richasharma

9 years ago

Forum marketing is very useful in gaining traffic to ur website but u must always do discussion on high PR sites only where most of the people can review ur reply. the most important is the signature that u drop. the main role is of signature. u drop signature so that people go to ur signature and via that one visit on the targeted site increases.

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myob

9 years ago

Originally Posted by myob

Try googling myob+warrior forum. This is how I've become "Competitors' Nightmare".

Originally Posted by lgibbon

Are you quite sure about that?
The results aren't very flattering.

Thanks for checking up on that, but oh yea; I'm quite sure.

The publicity, curiosity and exposure resulting from "commentaries" on my WF posts are actually quite astounding.

Although this forum is not my target market, there are global audiences eagerly watching everything I do here.

Every breath you take... I'll be watching you.

Thanks
1 reply

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Boris Qs 9 years ago

Many people have been hitting on the point which is simply contribute by helping to answer a person question. That is the primary popose of a forum. Many people join a forum to learn or get info about the problem they are facing. Marketers use it as a platform to provide what these people need in a very summarized form with the hope that those looking for a solution will click on their sig. to find out more. If the marketer is a specialist on that topic they will have a targeted lead that will easily convert.

Now lets say for example you are looking for info on how to get more traffic through Forums and you come through a post like that of Miguelito203, sogeshirts, JohnMcCabe, or writeaway, just to name a few on this thread. That might indice you to click their sig to find out if they are offering a course on the topic or they have a blog post on the topic so you might get the details on that topic. If they actually have something about that topic, you may end up subscribing on their list and they will be happy for their efforts of just helping others.You will also be happy for getting a solution to your problem.

Concerning the effects on Google. I think one of the ranking factors of Google is website interaction.Which is why social media plays a role now. The more visitors interact on your website the more Google regards your website as a value provider. with the traffic from forums you will easily have interaction on your site since people will be leaving comments or subscribing to your list and all these counts as interactions. So yes, it can help with Google rankings too.That is how I look at it Hope that helps.
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Imbahost

9 years ago

Many people drive traffic from through fake accounts by referring their own site but best method would be to give interesting and helpful replies to other users, other users will notice your signature and might visit your site.

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FreedomBlogger

9 years ago

Forum marketing works, but only if you do it right!

The process is very simple. Someone actually shared the simplest process ....

Step one: Find High Traffic Forums.

Step two: Contribute actual helpful posts relating to the niche of the forum you are on. Don't post for the sake of posting. Give tips and share your experience.

Step three: Have an eye catching signature linking to your blog or squeeze page.

Step Four: Post 5 to ten posts, and try to pop up in the first couple of responses for
each thread. (Yes, I'm doing this right now)

Hope this helps.

That's it!!

You just have to do a lot of it! ... and very consistently!

Massive consistent action, WITH the right process, is the key. I would say!

Just keep on moving forward!

Thanks

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mdjewelkhan1992

9 years ago

You need to find the relevant Forum, which is similar on your NICHE. Then you may need to be a member of the site. Then you can make any thread or, make any post. In this post you can add your link or, you can add your link on the signature. In this way you can get traffic from the Forum site. Thanks

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quadagon

9 years ago

I'm not going to repeat whats been said (although that seems to be what you do on the WF) I'm going to add something. If you contribute to a thread its because you want to establish your credibility and authority in that subject. You are not going to do that with a single post in a thread you'll get lost in the mix.

To overcome this you need to build a conversation and to do this you want to insert CTA's at the end of the post. This way you are seen more and your credibility rises

Tell me does that make sense?

Thanks
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JohnMcCabe

9 years ago

Originally Posted by quadagon

I'm not going to repeat whats been said (although that seems to be what you do on the WF) I'm going to add something. If you contribute to a thread its because you want to establish your credibility and authority in that subject. You are not going to do that with a single post in a thread you'll get lost in the mix.

To overcome this you need to build a conversation and to do this you want to insert CTA's at the end of the post. This way you are seen more and your credibility rises

Tell me does that make sense?

You made sense right up the part I bolded. Most forums worth trying to market in will bounce you in a heartbeat if your "calls to action" get too aggressive for the mods' sensibilities.

Thanks

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quadagon

9 years ago

Hi John,

Thanks I should have been more clear in my post. I apologise.

The CTA I meant was to carry on the conversation not a 'Buy Now' type. So comments like the one I included in the post - 'tell me does that make sense' or 'ask if you need any further help' should be used to get the conversation to advance.

I fully agree with your comment though in regards to selling/seld promotion CTA's though.

Eric

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