If you undertake a search on the term ‘forum communities’ you will find around a million entries. If even 10% of those entries are actually forums, then you have over 100,000 forums to choose from and if you can think of a niche, there will be a forum.
Forums are effective for many activities. Networking is often hailed as a benefit in joining forum communities, however there are many more advantages.
If a major product fails you can bet it will hit Digg and other social bookmarking sites pretty quickly. You would be surprised at how many of those articles find their sources in forum communities. People gather in forums to talk on a wide variety of issues including what products work and don’t. What products people recommend to solve problems and how to tweak their products for better performance.
The first forums many years ago where IT based and where full of ‘how to’ tips. These ranged from how to upgrade your system through to how to access online information faster. They were also communities where recommendations where made on various products. Windows 98 received rave reviews initially through these communities. Every time a problem arose, guess where it was found first?
Forum communities provide social marketers with a number of opportunities. The first is simply as a feedback and trend watch tool. Listen to what is being said. What products are failing and in what way they are failing – does your product address that issue – if it does, market that fact.
Having a presence on niche related forum communities can also give you the advantage of establishing yourself as an expert in your niche. A reputation for solving problems will always draw attention and with it traffic.
They may be old fashioned and can at times be difficult to navigate until you get used to them however forum communities still represent one of the best value for time social marketing options.
Nice article.
Didn’t u forget to add that search engines love forums?
Goodday