Build Your Connections with an Online Forum on Your Website

You may have started a blog, and that’s a great first step in expanding your online presence. But did you know that an online forum can build even more of a connection between you and your customers?

Online discussion forums have become wildly popular because they offer an easily accessible environment for information sharing. Tech companies, for example, learned early on that their product end users might know as much about day-to-day user issues as their own tech support departments.

This phenomenon actually builds their product exposure while allowing customers to feel invested by helping other users. One more plus: with careful planning, a forum attached to a website can boost your SEO component radically.

To get started building your own online forum, do some research on the Internet on add-on user forums. These range all the way from high-end platforms with very sophisticated features to inexpensive forums featuring ads. Here are a couple of recommendations to consider: www.VBulletin.com and www.myfastforum.org.

Pick a format that’s simple to set up and maintain. Post a welcome note for visitors and set your forum rules before you begin advertising it.

Here are some basic rules for all online forums:

  • Forum discussion is limited to members only (it only takes a minute to join and will keep out spammers).
  • All users must keep their posts civil and useful to the forum community.
  • Moderate posts at least daily for abuse and block repeat offenders from participating.

Once it’s up and running, add a link to your website and start including the link to your forum in all email advertising. It takes time to build interest in a forum. The key is consistent effort. Incorporate invitations to join the forum and forum discussion questions into your email marketing. Create product promotions for forum members only.

As with your blog, it’s crucial to keep your forum filled with useful content. Ask forum members their opinions on topics related to your product market. Invite them to respond to questions from other forum members. Consider holding a teleseminar for forum members only, to spark even more discussion.


An online forum can generate traffic to your website and interest in your products. Do your homework and choose a forum application that works well for your needs. Set sensible rules and interact often with your forum members. With time, your forum can become one of your strongest online marketing tools.

One Response to “Build Your Connections with an Online Forum on Your Website”

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