Using Online Forums as a Marketing Tool
by Veronica Stone on October 24th, 2007
Online forums are one of the best marketing tools you can use, and one of the most overlooked. Unfortunately many people don’t take advantage of these great resources. You can leverage this and put your business in front of a targeted audience; however, it’s important to learn the proper “netiquette” for online forums and how to use them to your advantage.
Credibility
Just by offering your honest ideas and knowledge to other members on the online forum, you are able to build up your credibility. This is very important. People want to purchase things from people and companies that they trust. When someone knows you to be an expert in your niche, they will be more likely to trust you. When you’re on the forum, be sure to offer helpful, polite, and good advice to those who are looking for it. Use strategic questions to help sell your products and your company. For example, if you’re in the running shoe business, you could really be interested in the “favorite” running shoe of the other members. Then offer some information here and there. This gets people interested in what you have, and they are being sold without even realizing it.
Proper Netiquette
When you are using the forums, you want to make sure that you observe the proper netiquette with the other members. For example, with an online forum, people naturally offer advice, give constructive criticism and ideas. If someone criticizes you or your product, don’t get defensive. Thank them for their ideas, and then explain in a nice way why they’re wrong. Provide facts and statistics if possible. You never want to argue with a member. It’s bad for business. Think of standing outside of your storefront and having a yelling match with a customer. What are other customers going to think? Always be on your “best behavior.”
Choosing the Forums
It’s obviously important that you choose a forum that’s related to your needs. Forums for business men and women, entrepreneurs or businesses that sell certain types of products are good ones to look at. One to try is The goWholesale Forums (www.gowholesale.com/forums ). There are some other really great ones too. If you’re starting a business, try Startup Nation (www.startupnation.com ). You can look up other forums related to your business in any major search engine. The right kind of forum can be one of your most useful marketing tools.
Do Not Sell
Yes, of course you’re trying to sell things. However, you don’t want it to look like you are. That’s why you should never pitch things on the forum. Let people find it their own way through your offered knowledge, help and ideas to other members. A lot of forums have marketplaces too where you can actually list your business as if it were an advertisement. If you are pitchy, or write a lot of hype about your products, the other members will see right through you and won’t even bother to check you out.
One thing to try is simply putting your company name and link in your forum signature. It’s a way of marketing your business that isn’t to much for other forum members to take.
If you’re marketing on a shoestring budget, online forums can be a great way to promote your business for free to a targeted audience. For it to work well, however, it’s important to observe proper netiquette and participate in a constructive way.
