Promoting a forum when you have no money

Beverly Level X³

January 3, 2013, 12:52 pm

29

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Promoting a forum when you have no money

For me, a forum is just a hobby, and there is no money in my personal budget to promote the forum. That means, I'm not buying ad space or paying for backlinking services.

It's always been this way. I like promoting my sites (including forum) using free methods as it allows for more creativity.

Some people say paid advertising is better. And, that's debatable. If you have the money to spare and know what you are doing, then you should pay for forum promotion.

Otherwise, use the free resources available such as social marketing; forum signatures; blog commenting; press releases, etc.

How do you promote your forum or site when you don't have money to spend?

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angie828

angie828

I agree that free resources are a great idea to promote your site. It does not take any money to do so and it is a great way to engage with others, such as forum posting and such.

12 years ago

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tionna

tionna

I am looking at starting a site and do not have that much cash. I guess that I will have to do some looking and find some ways to promote it for free. I like the idea of forum posting, but do all sites allow you to have a signature?

12 years ago

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angie828

angie828

No Tionna they all do not and some will only let you have one after you have become an established member.

12 years ago

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goodboy133

goodboy133

It depends on your knowledge. I have no money for promotion but I have grasped the basics of promotion, therefor I do not, right now, need paid promotion.

I'd stick with the free promotion ways as the ones you have stated, and see how it goes. Remember that promotion is easier when your forum/blog/site is good, has unique features and is different from other forums. That encourages people to join the forum much more than doing loads of promotion for a common forum.

Free promotion is very hard, so is paid promotion. That is, except if you know how things go. That way, you will have more knowledge about it. Free promotion is harder than paid promotion (in my opinion), but if you do it very well, it might be better than paid promotion (in my opinion).

12 years ago

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ralph101

ralph101

Word of mouth is a great free way to advertise things. Get people talking about it and then others find out about it.

12 years ago

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America

America

Having a related blog on the same site as your forum is a good way to promote the forum as you can always cross link to new forum posts as they are made.

11 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

I am looking at starting a site and do not have that much cash. I guess that I will have to do some looking and find some ways to promote it for free. I like the idea of forum posting, but do all sites allow you to have a signature?

What niche will your site be in? If it's related to internet marketing or SEO there are plenty of forums that allow a signature line and it won't be too hard to earn. Niche forums are a little more picky about allowing signatures. But usually you can get a signature line on gamer forums.

11 years ago

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Justin

Justin

Having a related blog on the same site as your forum is a good way to promote the forum as you can always cross link to new forum posts as they are made.

You could just make your Facebook page into your blog rather than having a blog located on Blogger.

11 years ago

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Marlin

Marlin

Having a related blog on the same site as your forum is a good way to promote the forum as you can always cross link to new forum posts as they are made.

This is also the best way to provide newly updated content daily for your readers, which will cultivate a following and steady site traffic. You won't have to worry about advertising dollars since your regular site visitors will be coming back daily and likely to recommend your site to others.

11 years ago

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elladavidson

elladavidson

What niche will your site be in? If it's related to internet marketing or SEO there are plenty of forums that allow a signature line and it won't be too hard to earn. Niche forums are a little more picky about allowing signatures. But usually you can get a signature line on gamer forums.

Why can you usually get signature lines on a gamer forum?

11 years ago

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Dether

Dether

- guest posting on blogs thematically related to your forum
- writing bunch of usefull posts on forums related to yours with link to your forum in signature
- seo for main phrase that describe your forum
- facebook and social media fanpages,
- ask your friends, maybe they can be interested to involve in life of your forum

11 years ago

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evie

evie

You could do lots of forum posting with signature links. If your site relates to any questions on yahoo answers, you might also want to pursue that as well.

11 years ago

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barry

barry

No Tionna they all do not and some will only let you have one after you have become an established member.

Yes and I have been on sites before that will not allow you to have a signature link if the link is related to their site, sort of dumb huh?

11 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

Why can you usually get signature lines on a gamer forum?

This is just true of the gamer forums where I've been posting. Of course, I have 1000 posts on one of the gamer forums, so maybe that's why they don't say too much about my signature line. On another gamer forum, I see all kinds of signature links and banners in the signature line.

11 years ago

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LizAnne

LizAnne

- guest posting on blogs thematically related to your forum
- writing bunch of usefull posts on forums related to yours with link to your forum in signature
- seo for main phrase that describe your forum
- facebook and social media fanpages,
- ask your friends, maybe they can be interested to involve in life of your forum

So long as your main purpose on any of these sites is to help and inform, then you will be a success. Keep the helpful attitude when on forums and others will value your contribution and want to join your forum to contribute their own opinions.

11 years ago

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Charlotte

Charlotte

Facebook groups is another good place to promote a niche forum. Find a Facebook group that relates to your forum niche and get actively involved there. Over time, you will find a way to communicate about your own forum on this Facebook group, without overtly spamming, maybe through subtle recommendation.

11 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

Facebook groups is another good place to promote a niche forum. Find a Facebook group that relates to your forum niche and get actively involved there. Over time, you will find a way to communicate about your own forum on this Facebook group, without overtly spamming, maybe through subtle recommendation.

What I like about Facebook groups is how you can create real conversations here and have a sense of community going on, much the same way you would with a forum.

11 years ago

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Asmodeus

Asmodeus

For my biggest forum much of my traffic comes from Reddit. Lots of webmasters forget that one among the social sites, but it can be a goldmine, and good backlinks too

11 years ago

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America

America

For my biggest forum much of my traffic comes from Reddit. Lots of webmasters forget that one among the social sites, but it can be a goldmine, and good backlinks too

And, what is your site/blog about? Maybe Reddit works for some sites better than others, so it would be good to know what your niche is.

11 years ago

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Asmodeus

Asmodeus

And, what is your site/blog about? Maybe Reddit works for some sites better than others, so it would be good to know what your niche is.

Reddit works best with humour sites and adult ones.

11 years ago

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Wayne

Wayne

Have you tried banner or button swaps with other forums? That would be a good way to expose your forum to potential members on other related or similar forums.

11 years ago

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Griffin

Griffin

I am looking at starting a site and do not have that much cash. I guess that I will have to do some looking and find some ways to promote it for free. I like the idea of forum posting, but do all sites allow you to have a signature?

Also, some forums forbid links to other similar forums. So for instance, if you have a gamer forum you would not be able to advertise via signature line on other game forums. This could vary from one forum to another, so you will want to read the rules as some allow links to forums that are similar nature and some do not.

10 years ago

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Jagger

Jagger

Also, some forums forbid links to other similar forums. So for instance, if you have a gamer forum you would not be able to advertise via signature line on other game forums. This could vary from one forum to another, so you will want to read the rules as some allow links to forums that are similar nature and some do not.

Actually game forums are very liberal about allowing game related sites to be advertised in signature lines. Though maybe that only applies to linking to a game blog rather than a forum. That has been my experience anyway.

10 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

Here are some free ways to promote your forum.
Promote and market your forum on social media platforms. You can create a facebook page, twitter account, instagram account, Pinterest account and promote your forums.
Promote your forum on other forums. Promotion forums and webmaster forums are a good platforms to promote your forums.

7 years ago

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augusta

augusta

I don't indulge in paid adverts,I do more of free promotion for my blog.
I promote my forum on blogs and other forums through the signature provided by a site
I use the social media like sharing of posts to Facebook,Twitter and Instagram
I also do backlinks to my blog etc.

7 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I also like free hosting services for my site. I have never though about investing on my site because I started it as a hobby. I would consider investing in future once I know I have enough sources and content to keep the site running for years. Also, if the probability of the site generating high income is high.

7 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

When my husband launched the forum of their office website, they hired an email brigade that promoted their forum via email. It was fine because in one week’s time, the forum was already abuzz with activity. After sometime when the forum was getting quiet, my husband took the cudgels because there was no more budget. Fortunately some friends helped in reviving the forum otherwise the forum would have been dead because members do not log in anymore.

7 years ago

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