Google

Some Quick Tips to Easily Improve the Success of Your Forum!


It is difficult to define a 'successful forum'. However, all forums deal with information and so the amount of information that is transferred across a forum is an indication of its success. The most effective way to boost the transfer of information is by boosting your forum's traffic.

Getting visitors to your forum for the first time

Promote your forum in a signature file at the end of your articles, emails and forum posts. This will show people that you do have a forum. Usually, the main reason people don't visit forums is not because they have no interest in visiting them, but because they don't know they're there. Raising awareness of your forum is particularly important. If you have an ezine, promote your forum in that and include some of the most interesting comments that have been posted. Your website should also promote your forum avidly. Try to include a visible link to your forum on every page of your website. This way whichever page visitors enter on, they will always have the opportunity to learn about and visit your forum. Also, with a link on every page of your site, visitors are always seeing your forum offer, and on the internet, repetition works!

Possibly the most effective way to get more posts on your forum is by offering an incentive to anyone who posts or signs up as a 'forum member'. Offer those who post a free ebook which you send to them by email. This way you capture their email address too and so if your forum goes through a period of poor traffic you can always contact old posters and ask them to post for you. Don't think old posters won't do this. They will probably be honoured that you have remembered about them and that you value their thoughts and comments. It is amazing how a little incentive such as an ebook can bring hundreds of people to post on you forum.

Publish testimonials about your forum all over your website and in your ezine. You could even incorporate one in a signature file. You can't rely on your visitors trusting you on the fact that your forum contains high quality posts. Get opinions on your forum from previous posters, collect the most complimentary ones and then distribute these testimonials to as many people as you can. People will be interested if you can prove that your forum has helped others. If you don't have any testimonials, then don't be afraid to ask your forum visitors for them. As I've said before, they will be honoured that you value their opinion and are likely to give a very complimentary testimonial.

Do you publish ads on your forum? If you do, then consider doing an ad swap with a forum of the same subject as yours. This will ensure that traffic from your ad swap will be targeted. This method of advertising is very effective and is also free. For tips on creating a great ad go to http://www.blog.info-ebooks.co.uk/creatingprofitads.html.

Getting visitors to come back to your forum

It is one thing being able to get people to your forum, but is quite another to get them to come back. However, if you wish to have a successful forum, you need people who post regularly.

Most importantly, make sure that your forum has a focused topic around which all the posts are based. Forums with no focus very rarely succeed because it is so difficult to attract a targeted audience and these forums very rarely go into enough depth on the subject that is being discussed. The topic you choose to base your forum on should be something that you know a great deal about so that you can respond to anyone who might ask a question. This will save you from looking unprofessional and you will also enjoy managing your forum more if it is based on something you are interested about.

Another essential fact to consider when running a forum is that people who post and ask questions want answers fast. They definitely do not want to have to wait more than 24 hours for a reply because it looks like no one cares about helping them. Just make sure you check your forum periodically, perhaps 4 times a day, and answer any questions.

Make sure that your forum is regularly updated with interesting posts. Nothing will put a visitor off more than discovering that the last post was over a week ago. This will definitely not encourage them to reply. Don't be afraid to post the majority of comments yourself. Even if they aren't replied to, at least it makes your forum look active.

Also, do not let your forum's layout let you down. I thoroughly recommend staying clear of bright colours. Choose a good colour scheme, perhaps a light and dark colour. Even though this sounds pedantic, your colour scheme is what visitors will see first. Be careful not to overcomplicate your forum either. Make navigation easier by putting links in an orderly fashion.

For more information on this subject or about making money online go to http://www.info-ebooks.co.uk

100s of free ebooks and software products are also available at this address. Gain free access to these by sending a blank email to:

infoebooks@freeautobot.com

Thank you for reading

William Johnston
(will@info-ebooks.co.uk)

MORE RESOURCES:

RELATED ARTICLES

Five Tips to Launching a Successful Message Forum
Forums a.k.
How To Get Free Advertising By Participating In E-mail Discussion Lists
Posting messages to e-mail discussion lists is a great way to get free advertising. An e-mail discussion list is a group of people connected together via e-mail that can communicate with one another.
Whats The Deal With Discussion Lists for Writers? (Part Two)
What Are the Advantages and/or Drawbacks of Subscribing to Discussion Lists? "I learn a lot about publishing houses, editors, etc., and we're like one big happy family," says Dotti Enderle, who belongs to several lists - the biggest being the Children's Writers List.
Dont Over Accesorize Your Forums; Give it Community Content
Have you been to those forums where when it opens up you are blasted off your seat by the stunning colors? Sure you have. We all have.
How to Market on Forums and Message Boards Without Upsetting Anyone
Believe it or not, you can market on forums and message boards without pissing anyone off. In fact, not only can you market this way, you SHOULD market this way, and I'll tell you why later in this article.
10 Commandments To Maximizing Your Time In Forum Participation
1) Gain an idea/keep in touch of what is happening in the Internet Marketing scene (strategies, product, news).2) Help others as well as yourself to solve a 'how to' problem whenever it crops up.
Make Money From Forums
If you have a website about a topic you enjoy, you can make money from discussion forums. Talk, post links to your site, get traffic.
The Demise of EZBoard
For years, EZBoard was a community that offered relatively cheap and easy to maintain forums for managers. Virtually anyone could register, design, and layout a site and invite their friends to participate.
Forum Software 101 - Why It is Vitally Important to Choose the Best Software to Run your Forum
When you go through all of the work and trouble to set up your own forum, you don't want anything to get in the way of its success..
The Value of Forums
There are literally thousands of online forums that cover a wide range of topics. Forums provide individuals, who share a common interest, with a meeting place for open discussion, and a great gathering spot for "water cooler" talk.
Using Online Marketing Forums to Jumpstart Your Home Business
One of the most wonderful things that I have discovered about the network-marketing world during the past few months are online forums. These forums offer so much to enrich both your online working life and your knowledge of this sometimes confusing, often frustrating world of home-based business, internet marketing.
3 Reasons Why PHP Message Boards Rock
If you are web designer, chances are you include forums on at least some of the sites you manage. If you haven't explored PHPBB2 you are missing out as this type of message board offers to designers a forum that is well supported, easy to manage, and above all else: free! Let's see why PHPBB2 is a hit with so many web designers.
Using Forums To Network Successfully
According to one of the entries found at dictionary.com the definition of the word network is as follows: Something resembling an openwork fabric or structure in form or concept, especially: An extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support.
Seven Must Follow Rules While Participating In Message Boards
Participating in message boards (forums) discussions is a great way of self promotion. It costs you nothing.
Internet Forums - Six Ways To Avoid Disaster
Internet Forums are highly popular, they cater for all tastes and deal with every topic imaginable. People visit Internet forums for a variety of reasons, the most common being the search for information or entertainment.
How to Sell Your Product on the Forums?
1. Your signature file:Most of the forums allow you to carry a 4 - 6 lines of signature files with your name.
The Benefits of Hiring Forum Posters
There are many business benefits to be realized by including a forum on your website. A forum is an area where individuals can converse on a regular basis about different topics and ideas as well as discuss your services and products.
Search for Business Partners Effortlessly
With the internet revolution ushering in new modes of communication everyday, building contacts is no longer an arduous, time consuming job. In fact, if you are looking for effective and easy ways to search for business partners, the internet provides a ready answer.
11 Ways To Increase Forums Activities
Getting people to post in your forum is probably the hardest thing to do. First, not all of your readers will post messages.
Should You Add A Forum To Your Site?
I was recently reading a message board thread on a popular SEO site and the question came up whether this particular person should add a forum to his site. I appreciated the honest answers from those who replied and I mulled over several points myself that I thought would be beneficial.