Using Forums to Actually Build Traffic

Whenever you read an ebook or a post on increasing traffic, it probably lists forums as a major traffic source. How is it then, that few webmasters and bloggers efficiently utilize forums to bring in traffic?

Most sources just tell you something along these lines: Be a caring and helpful forum member, put your link in your signature, and watch the traffic flow.  These are decent tips, but they really don’t really help webmasters get more than a few signature clicks once and a while. It is no wonder that many webmasters don’t use forums for traffic.

If these so called traffic gurus really use forums regularly to build traffic, they would know that it takes much more than having a signature to gain traffic from forums.  What most people’s vague advice tells me is they really don’t consider forums a real traffic source.

I consider forums a real traffic source, and use them to gain much of the traffic that comes to Web Journey.  Forums work almost like a social network for me, bringing in over 150 comments on one article (to name an example).  However, that is using techniques that utilize promoting articles on forums, and are covered in promoting on forums

This post will cover the working class forums posters, the posters that post constantly, but really aren’t getting sufficient traffic.  To make forums posting work, you will need to work hard, but it will provide good traffic.  "Good traffic" that beginning websites, blogs, and forums need.

A Quick Myth Breaker

Many people post on forums just to build links.  Forums may help with SEO, but it’s more like a small boast.Expecting massive improvement in your search engine rankings is a fairy tale.  The main thing that forums help with is traffic; SEO is secondary.

By all means, feel free to use anchor text in signatures, or perform other techniques to improve SEO, but do everything (that has to do with forums) with traffic number one in your mind.

Starting to Build Traffic

I recommend that you join one forum first and focus on that.  Spreading your time between multiple forums will lower your success in one.  Only join multiple forums when you are ready to use each one efficiently.

Make sure that the forums you choose are related to the website or blog that you are promoting.  You may have to join a different forum for each of your sites if they have different topics.  You will receive small amounts of traffic if you have links in your signature unrelated to the forums topic.

Many articles state that the key to forum traffic is building a reputation in the community.  While it is true that a portion of viewers may notice members with better reputation and visit their sites, it is not a big deal.  You can start gaining traffic immediately if you do it right.

Pimping Your Signature

While you may need to De-pimp your website or blog, pimping a signature is great for catching a viewer’s attention.

Try using bold, colors, and other techniques that make your signature flashy. Here is an example:

Blog that focuses on bringing your website or blog success one step at a time.

 

You also should notice that I included a brief tag-line that tells about Web Journey.  A good tag-line increases clicks more than anything else, so make sure that you focus on making it great.  A great tag-line is short and draws potential visitors in.

Thread it Up

Replying to posts is good for some clicks and should be utilized, but starting threads is even better for traffic.  Most people who use forums first read the thread then a few replies.  You may get seen if you reply to a thread, but the thread starter gets read by almost all users who visit the thread.  More exposure equals more clicks on your signature.

When starting threads, create titles like you would for blog posts. You want the titles to draw in as many viewers as possible. Also, make sure you encourage discussion so your thread continues to get bumped.

Sound like a Guru

When I visit websites in signatures, I click because I think that the person who created the website knows what he is talking about.  I click because I think I can learn valuable information from him. 

How do I know what he is talking about?

Because he just created a great post.  He contributed relevant, helpful thoughts to the conversation, and I want to hear more of them.  From his post, I got the impression that he is knowledgeable about his topic.  Therefore, I visit the website or blog in the signature.

Answer people’s threads with a well thought out answer.  If you don’t know what you are talking about or are unsure, research.  This will make you more knowledgeable about your subject, and will allow you to give a good answer.

Most people will see through fake answers-answers that sound knowledgeable but aren’t really correct.  People tend to well… hate people that give bad answers.  Forum users tend to insult you or pick apart your bad answer.

Make sure that you spell-check and read through your answer.  Spelling and grammar errors really don’t have much to do with how intelligent you are, but people do notice and judge.

Sound like a guru, not an noob.This is one of the best ways to gain traffic from forums.

How to Gain Traffic With Forums (A Quick Guide)

Here are all the things that you should do to gain traffic from forums:

• Join relevant forums
• Build a reputation as a good member of a community
• Create a flashy signature
• Sound like a guru
• Start many threads that lure in traffic
• Never sound like a, gasp… noob.
• Always talk nicely to other forum members
• Post at least 5 times every day.

Make sure to check out promoting on forums to get even more traffic from forums.

 

Tagged as: Forum