Marketing for a Forum?

[SeoGuy]

Whats the best way to Market/Advertise a forum. My forum is related to web design/hosting and programming. Whats the best way to get it active and full of members ?

Any comments will be appreciated.

 

[tony84]

register on other forums, put your name in your signature? get friends on the sit posting all the usual things

 

[1rrr1]

make a lot of users and talk to urself

 

[Dwayne]

do what most people do on here, offer NP$ for sign up + 5 posts?

 

[nicholas]

Other alternatives:
1) Get people to visit your site by adding content. Add meaningful stuff on your site beyond just the community, like articles, links, etc. Even if you're a community site, in the beginning you need an anchor to get people to reach your site and find it meaningful. Then if they like what they see, they may join the community at its infancy.

2) Get links from related sites. Ask, beg, give your puppy, etc.

3) Advertise in related sites or those your target audience frequents. (You didn't say you wanted to do this absolutely free.)

4) Partner with related sites, especially those with only content, and let them link to you so their visitors can discuss their articles, etc. Of course you link back and so on.

 

[ZuraX]

do what most people do on here, offer NP$ for sign up + 5 posts?

I plan to do this here soon. Thing is, how many come back after getting the NP$?

 

[matrics]

Well, some do. Especially if they're interested in the forum

 

[Chris Choi]

Try to collect email names and monetize that by publishing a newsletter
2-4 times a month and send them a "POST of the WEEK or month" that
leads to your forum. OF course, you need to learn how to use permission
email correctly.