Need some forum marketing feedback.

Michael_

Michael_

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Mar 12, 2013
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I'm looking to do some forum marketing for one of my sites and I'm having trouble deciding between two options, as I generally don't forum market on the scale that I'm planning.

The first option is:
Register as "Brandname" and brand out my profile and build reputation, sig drops and contextual backlinks through this "Brandname" forum account. This account will obviously only advertise the brand in sig links/profile/avatar/etc.

Should I start a new project in the niche or sell the business, new accounts will be needed all around and the old accounts are abandoned (obviously, because the user is "Brandname"), but backlinks and residual forum traffic stay. I simply stop posting on the account.

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The second option is:
Simply create a single identity to build massive trust/authority over all the forums I'm targeting in this niche and use this resource to swap out promotion signatures for future projects at will.
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The main problem with the first option is that any reputation built on the forums is lost when selling the business or starting a new project. Another problem is there are some forums which get really pissed off when they catch someone with multiple accounts.

The main problem with option two is backlinks and residual traffic are lost anytime I change my signature/profile/etc.


Anyone have any experience or advice to offer to help me make the best decision?
 


A lot of forums allow you to change your display name so that might be the best of both worlds.

Second option is best when your name (or pen name) is to become synonymous with the brand. It's pointless keeping reputation on a forum in relation to Brand A and then changing to Brand B when they aren't related. If anything it will cause more confusion. If they are unrelated then definitely Option 1 (if you can't change username).

I wouldn't worry about the loss of links on a forum and I've always found old posts don't generate much referred traffic anyway - it's always the new posts.
 
dsiomtw said:
lol forum marketing lol
Click to expand...

Wouldn't laugh too hard - If you can put out good stuff, having a systemized forum marketing setup can make shit go viral in a hurry. 100K thread views promoting a single link in under 24hrs? Yes please.

Not to mention, the company currently sponsoring this forum was birthed right here on WickedFire. :321:
 
Fraggler said:
A lot of forums allow you to change your display name so that might be the best of both worlds.

Second option is best when your name (or pen name) is to become synonymous with the brand. It's pointless keeping reputation on a forum in relation to Brand A and then changing to Brand B when they aren't related. If anything it will cause more confusion. If they are unrelated then definitely Option 1 (if you can't change username).

I wouldn't worry about the loss of links on a forum and I've always found old posts don't generate much referred traffic anyway - it's always the new posts.
Click to expand...

Don't think I've ever even seen a forum that allows you to change your display name - but maybe that's just the niches I frequent.

As for changing from Brand A to Brand B - all the forums would be in the same niche - so only similar brands of mine would be promoted. If I was going to use a single user, think "weight loss guru" pushing out a new product every 6 months and pushing it with his authority/profile/sig/etc.

I guess the real question is, is the reputation you can gain and use again with a single identity worth more than pushing for brand exposure with individual accounts?
 
Fraggler said:
I think it is, especially on a forum. You just have to see the shit new users here go through :p Same thing happens on most - new members are written off - but here it is openly expressed.
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I would think it applies more if you or your pen name are the brand. Like Tony Robbins or someone.

But from a pure marketing standpoint, I really can't decide which is better. The vast majority of traffic on big forums are first timers/lurkers who don't follow the forums enough to give a damn who has "good" rep, who is "cool" or popular. The only people who care about that stuff are regulars, which make up a tiny percent of the traffic you're trying to siphon.
 
Forum marketing is no different than social media marketing, other than the interface.

Unless you have a familiar brand that already interacts with consumers, you'll isolate yourself if you wear a mask that no one recognizes.

Create a personality that interacts with people around the topic that you're trying to establish yourself as an authority. Have a little fun with it, too. And after you start to see signs of trust from fellow users, you can start to associate yourself with the brand, service, or product. But soft-selling will benefit you more than going for the kill, unless there's an understanding of selling such as WF's BST.

In fact, there are plenty of examples of the answer to your question here on WF. But none beat Captain Bill.

Captain Bill is a realtor in the Phoenix-metro area who posts daily on the Phoenix area subforums at City Data. He answers questions, engages in conversation, and continuously shares detailed articles on the climate of the Phoenix housing market. In his off-time, he even writes entertaining (and yet informative) articles on the topic. See: Your Phoenix Metro area Home for Sale is Haunted? Better Disclose It. (Gilbert: real estate, lease) - City-Data Forum

He is regarded as an authority. Even we contacted him prior to moving to Phoenix. Even if he was selling nuts and bolts, with that level of investment, I would contact him on my next nuts & bolts purchase. It doesn't matter.

Good luck.
 
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