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

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

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/cr eatingprofitads.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)

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Obama outlines rebuilding plans to create jobs (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday outlined his plan to create 2.5 million jobs in coming years to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize schools while developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars.

Kin outraged, distraught over teen's cyber suicide (AP)

AP - The family of a college student who killed himself live on the Internet say they're horrified his life ended before a virtual audience, and infuriated that viewers of the live webcam or operators of the Web site that hosted it didn't act sooner to save him.

Obama moves quickly to fill Cabinet positions (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama has moved with unusual speed to select officials for his administration, and senior Democratic officials say he intends to name Timothy Geithner as his treasury secretary as soon as Monday.

Carter, Annan, others refused entry to Zimbabwe (AP)

AP - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said Saturday that he and others planning a humanitarian mission in Zimbabwe had been refused entry to the impoverished African country.

Is Alaska big enough for celebrity Palin? (AP)

AP - Oprah wants her, and so do Letterman and Leno. Fresh from her political defeat, Sarah Palin is juggling offers to write books, appear in films and sit on dozens of interview couches at a rate that would be astonishing for most Hollywood stars, let alone a first-term governor.

Hollywood actors guild to seek strike (AP)

AP - The Screen Actors Guild said Saturday it will ask its members to authorize a strike after its first contract talks in four months with Hollywood studios failed despite the help of a federal mediator.

Astronauts face hardest spacewalk to finish repair (AP)

AP - Astronauts up on the international space station faced the longest and hardest spacewalk of their mission Saturday, a seven-hour-plus excursion to wrap up repair work on a gummed-up joint.

Bush, Canadian leader discuss economic crisis (AP)

AP - President George W. Bush, meeting at an economic summit in Peru with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, says that given the economic crisis, its more important than ever for the two neighbors to work together.

US: Financial woes no excuse in funding Afghan war (AP)

AP - Even in a global financial crisis, the world cannot afford to skimp on its obligations to Afghanistan, which wants to double the size of its army but will never be able to pay for it, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.

Big day for Knicks ends with Marbury controversy (AP)

AP - With two moves, the New York Knicks created salary space for a premier free agent and playing time for Stephon Marbury.

Obama says drafting bold economic stimulus (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said on Saturday that he was crafting an aggressive, two-year stimulus plan to revive the troubled economy, warning that swift action was needed to prevent a deep slump and a spiral of falling prices.

Annan, Carter barred from Zimbabwe (Reuters)

Reuters - Zimbabwe has barred former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and other prominent figures from visiting the country to assess the humanitarian crisis, the group said on Saturday.

Citigroup talking to U.S. government as shares dive: source (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc has begun talks with the U.S. government as its plummeting share price raises doubts about the bank's ability to survive, a person familiar with the matter said.

Somali rebels take steps to attack tanker pirates (Reuters)

Reuters - MOGADISHU (Reuters) Islamist militants in Somalia took steps on Saturday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, an Islamist spokesman said.

GM cuts output, jets as U.S. demands turnaround plans (Reuters)

Reuters - Detroit automakers began work on turnaround plans demanded by Congress in return for $25 billion in aid as General Motors Corp said it would cut production more and give up two of its controversial corporate jets.

General Motors board weighs bankruptcy option: report (Reuters)

Reuters - The board of directors of embattled U.S. automaker General Motors Corp is considering "all options" including bankruptcy, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal's website late on Friday.

Wall Street stages late rally on Geithner news (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stocks stormed higher in a late rally on Friday to cap another volatile week as investors welcomed reports that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his point person to combat the U.S. economic crisis, instilling confidence about the administration's ability to take action.

Soros says U.S. needs billions more in aid measures (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. economy needs additional support measures of between $300 billion and $600 billion to help it withstand the financial crisis, U.S. billionaire investor George Soros was quoted as saying by a German weekly.

Terror plot mastermind killed by US missile in Pakistan: officials (AFP)

AFP - The alleged Al-Qaeda mastermind of a 2006 transatlantic airplane bombing plot was killed in a US missile attack in northwest Pakistan early Saturday, officials said.

Carter, Annan denied entry to Zimbabwe (AFP)

AFP - Former US president Jimmy Carter accused Zimbabwe's government Saturday of being "immune" to the hardships of its people as he and ex-UN chief Kofi Annan were denied entry on a humanitarian mission.

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

Forums Forums