How to Use Forums to Promote Your Website

I personally think of Internet forums as one of the best and most effective ways to promote new websites, products etc. The problem is that very few people use the forums correctly. In this article I will give a quick guide on how to use forums to promote your website, but also point out common mistakes people make when trying to promote their sites on various forums.

Let’s start by looking at what you shouldn’t do when using forums as a promotion tool. There are some recurring mistakes that I keep seeing over and over again. For example, many website owners think it’s a good idea to act as if they’re not affiliated with the website they’re trying to promote. They will start a forum thread asking if other people know about the site, and then give their own comment on how great they think the site is. This is most often very obvious, and it almost seems as the promoter thinks of his fellow forum users as complete idiots. If there ever would be a book on cheap online promotion tricks, then this would be one of the oldest tricks in that very book. What usually happens when someone tries to promote their site like that is that other users report him to a moderator who removes his thread. The result of this is that the website loses the chance to be promoted on that specific forum since the promoter no longer is trustworthy. It might also damage the reputation of a website, depending on what type of industry the site operates in.

Think about it, usually when you come across a great website you don’t start a thread about it in some random forum. You might tip of a friend or two about it, but that’s about it. Just because you’re online it doesn’t mean that people will not detect strange behaviour. It’s a riddle to me why people chose the few bad ways of promoting their site on forums when there are so many good ways.

What are then the good uses of a forum when it comes to promoting your website? I think the problem is that many website owners are afraid of losing trust if they reveal that they are the persons behind the site they’re promoting. Trust me, you will not lose any trust at all if you’re honest about what you’re doing. Let me show you some easy and good ways of using forums to promote your site.

First of all, you need to analyze your own site and the forum. Do they match at all? If not, then you’ll be better off finding a forum that actually makes sense in regards of what you’re promoting. Your website needs to match some aspect of the forum. So let’s say you’re running a website that reviews technical gadgets such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops etc. Instead of just posting a thread where you ask if people know about your great website, you could post your actual articles every now and then in relevant sections of the forum. Introduce the article and at the end of each article you can tell the readers that if they liked that specific article they might like the rest of the content on your website. However, do not spam the forum with each article you write – chose carefully and wisely what you post. This way you will promote your website in an open and honest fashion and it will be relevant to the forum and its readers.

But what if you’re running an online shop, or a website that is less content based? No worries, you can still use forums, you just need to switch tactics a bit. Instead of directly promoting what you have on the website, you can ask for input. Let’s say your e-shop sells designer clothing. A good idea would in that case be to find forums related to fashion and instigate a direct dialogue with potential customers. For example you could start a thread where you introduce your e-shop, and ask for feedback on the functionality, usability as well as the various brands you’re offering. Ask what they think is missing, what they think you’re doing well and so on. This will give you feedback from the very same crowd you’re targeting. It will also make you look serious and sincere about what you’re doing.

I think it all comes down to how much creativity you allow yourself to have. Don’t be lazy and don’t be afraid of communicating directly with your prospects, they will most likely give you the best and most accurate feedback. Just remember that its people you’re talking with, and just because its online it doesn’t mean you can run around pitching everyone; act online like you would act in real life situations. Be honest, sincere and focus your energy on the right forums instead of trying to cover as many as possible with lazy posts.

Soheil Amorpour, CEO @ CPerspective Online Marketing Agency