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There are forums and message boards out there for just about every topic. If you would like to meet other people online and discuss bird watching, knitting or curling there is a forum for you. Many times one of the top suggestions for gaining new customers is to post online at a message board related to your business or hobbies.

Many forums will allow you to place a link to your website in your signature (check the rules first). Some even have sections to advertise your business on as well. It is important though to follow some guidelines when using forum posting to help build your business.

First of all, gaining customers should not be your main focus when posting to forums. If all of your posts center around your business, then you are going to come off as a spammer and people will ignore you for sure. It may even get you banned depending on the forum’s rules. You should pick a forum with a topic that you enjoy and start posting about your interests. A member that contributes advice, offers support, and asks questions is one that will make friends quickly.

Secondly, take some time to get a feel for the community. Is it a fast paced one with hundreds of new posts every day? Or a slower moving one that sees little traffic. Make sure that your posting style is compatible to the existing members’ style. Always be courteous to other members and don’t get into a flame war.

My last piece of advice is to offer up some details about your personal life, but don’t be too open. Always remember that you are on a public forum that anyone can read. I don’t like to put too much information about my family out there for safety reasons. And don’t air your dirty laundry. The chances that I will do business with someone that feels the need to share the sordid details of their Aunt’s affair are about nil. I imagine most people feel the same way.

What are some of your favorite forum posting tips? Have you gained customers posting to message boards? I hope today’s advice helps you out.

Warmly,
Mia