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03-27-2006, 01:29 PM
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· #1 | | Senior Member Name: Dan Location: Burlington, Vermont Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,035
NP$: 1085.90 ( Donate)
| Strategies for marketing a forum at different stages of its life.
At what point would you say a forum has matured to the point where advertising it may not be necessary? Would you change advertising strategies when you have a core group of active users?
I'm using adwords for a forum that has about 225 members, and I occasionally buy an ad through either Adbrite or Text-Link-Ads. I'm aiming for significantly more members before reducing to just Adwords, but any suggestions on strategies is helpful.
Thanks,
Dan
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03-27-2006, 02:38 PM
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· #2 | | NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 263
NP$: 26.00 ( Donate)
| Pretty good question, however I do feel that any forum, regardless of size, could always use advertising. This applies to any large companies, so why would it not reply to forums also?
How much advertising you put into it is really up to you. The more you do, the more are going to see in return, of course...however, there is one basic rule/strategy I follow.
In the early stages, it is important to simply get your name out there, however you can. As you progress and gain a basic memberbase, I strongly feel as if the most important thing is to build loyalty in these members. This is where you start to build word of mouth...if you can get it started, it will bloom and hopefully explode. Once you get that word of mouth going, you have mini advertisers all over the place for you which will let you cut back on advertising as you get larger and larger...but then again, you'll have a larger budget, so why not spend more? 
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03-27-2006, 02:53 PM
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· #3 | | Senior Member Name: Dan Location: Burlington, Vermont Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,035
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| GTAce, thanks for the reply and you make a couple of good points.
I can't see the future (obviously, if so I wouldn't be asking such questions
) but considering my forum I think I will always use Adwords. I think other types of advertising may change too. Like you said, advertising is essential no matter what.
Your point on loyalty is well taken too. My budget is low right now, but I am considering doing some contests. The first one I think I will make random, all registered users who have made at least X posts will have their names thrown in a hat for something.
Thanks again.
D | |
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03-28-2006, 06:52 AM
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· #4 | for President!  Name: Rob Location: UK Join Date: Mar 2006
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| I'd recommend visiting Forum University . It's a forum for admins and moderators.
They'll be able to help you. | |
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