I'm sure some of you guys/gals have some nice ideas for marketing a forum.
I'm setting one up, but I am pretty clueless at how to market it and get the word out, etc...
Also if you could give some insight into attracting (paying)sponsors for a forum that would be cool.
Man I was and still am in the same boat as you right now. I couldn't advertise my forums if my life was dependent on it. So far I only have my signature links generating traffic but let me tell you it's not easy doing it this way. For one you are always busy posting inside forums hoping that one person will click you siglink but it doesn't end there. That one person clicking the siglink actually has to have a need for your forums. If there is no need there is no register.
The only thing I can suggest is find a need and then fill it. Make sure there is a need for your forums and it will become successful.
Posting on related forums with a signature link to your forums can help. Also, you can comment on blogs, using your forum URL as your website. Also, you can bookmark your site on some popular social bookmarking websites.
Forums take a long time to get going. I hope you are prepared for the long haul.
Posting on forums and blogs similar to your niche and buying banner/text links. You could also explore on PPC campaign to be placed on other forums as well. Getting traffic is just the initial phase and and a lot easier as compared to retaining your visitors. Keep your forum lively and filled with useful and relevant discussions. You may also want to offer incentives to your members to post more frequently - like posting logos of active and top posters on the home page of your forum. Keep it moderated so as to maintain quality. Hope that helps
1. the best way for me is to use it myself,
2. join couple of forums and put in the sig your domain
3. there are free advertising forum/sections on forums and you could post some announcement about it.
4. submit to socials
5. other forums have forum currencies to incentivize then make use of it
6. make use of forum avatar
7. submit an article about it in goarticles.com any edge that you forum offer
8. put a recommend button and there are ezines that offer free ads
9. submit to directories chance for your site to get linked as well
10. blog about it.
11. post in bulletins of facebook, myspace, friendster
12. invite your social networking contacts to join
13. give a freebie
14. run contests
Thanks guy's for all the input. It's a forum on international terrorism, so if i find the right places to advertise it would think it might stand out. I know it's a bit off the wall, but like they (the government) says, its not a matter or if, but when.
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not sure what kind of contests/giveaways i could offer in this one....lol
maybe a free gun..??? (j/k)
You mean something like make a vid for youtube that shows terrorist activity (this IS an anti-terrorism site by the way) and advertise the forum in it???
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those are general tips that work on first of all a domain or hosting forum didn't know that it will be about international terrorism
lol
how about a giveaway like a free country to first that can explode a mall or some sort
kidding aside, most people will shy away from this word "terrorism"
you might need to hire bin laden to get the word out that's for sure, some tactics in intl terrorism, how to make atomic bombs, how to rape and kill while domaining, etc
ahhj i see anti-terrorism forum
so this is still applicable: http://www.namepros.com/2285309-post6.html
some tips/articles to prevent terrorism
terrorism attacks on countries and scenarios and how to prevent them
yeah videos can play a role too
start with a negative video like a real terrorism shot and then slowly direct them to the forum where these can be prevented,
negative - > positive - > and the solutions that your forum can provide if they will be a regular member, something like that.
yeah still applicable: http://www.namepros.com/2285309-post6.html http://www.namepros.com/2285322-post10.html
and about the video
if you can write articles that's great too
i can write one for you if you want for a price
i need also the exact domain and the tag line you might have and others
like why you started something like this, etc, just pm me for details.
there's more of it where it came from btw
sorry if i given wrong impression at first being in the Philippines, we've been terrorized here in malls just this week, mall explosion.
Terrorism is a sad thing, but it is inevitable.
Sad to hear about your situation there.
My G/F and I both do some article writing, so that should not be an issue. I may pm you though for some more input and ideas (could possibly throw some $ your way) if thats ok.
I just think sometimes people take the whole terrorism thing for granted, that whole, "it will never happen to me attitude", so I figured i'd start this forum, it will be blunt, too the point, and hopefully make some people think a bit more.
Thanks again for all your help.
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thanks for the concern, people here are afraid to go to malls btw, filipinos are typically happy people, we make light of our situation by cracking a joke or two.
this forum then will help a lot of people in the 3rd world countries esp our country as well,as you know we have abu sayyaf here, malls explosion, and other minor vigilante groups as well
i hope to get near the mall this week and take a few video shots, that is if i can get close to it. just amateur video btw
If you can get any I would love to see it, and possibly use it on the site. That would be great, and being amateur video would give a stronger impression, if you know what I mean.
Does that say 81 wounded? its hard to read...
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There are some speculations that the explosion might have been caused by a gas leak (or some faulty pipe installation) on the basement of that particular mall. What is the latest news on this buddy?
Wow. Thanks for all your advise on this topics. I am just thinking of setting up a forum but may likely to postpone my plan since it could be quite tedious.
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