For every niche, there are a wide range of discussion forums online discussing it. Then, if they have good traffic and allow it, you can implement a universal forum marketing strategy that can transform your business within a year. The entire plan doesn't have to take nearly as long as you might imagine. But if you want to get maximum value from your efforts, it will require some time and patience on your part. When it's your business on the line, you'll have to decide how to proceed.
If you want to be viewed as an expert in your niche, you must begin by working to create a good reputation. A failure in either task will net results that are not at all optimal. Of course, no one is going to recognize you if you aren't able to be seen first. What you want to avoid is spending a lot of time in any forum. After all, there are other things you need to do to market your business too.
It will also annoy regular members if you come on strong and make a ton of posts in a matter of hours. Create posts at times when the maximum amount of traffic is likely to hear what you have to say. A small number of thoughtful, well-stated posts will do much more in this busy timeframe than a hundred small posts made just to get your name out there.
What you need to do in any forum is mix things up which means a combination of posts and threads you start yourself. A lot of people who are new feel shy about starting threads. Just remember what you have to offer and want to share with the forum and begin your own thread. Encourage readers to ask any questions they have too.
There are many ways to get people to comment, and one way is to say or imply something controversial. Just be wary of too much controversy or coming across in a negative light. Above all else, keep your threads on topic for the forum.
Take a little time to watch and figure out who's considered important on the forums before you even think about starting to network. In general, there are a few people who carry a lot of sway on the boards. There is some influence to this based on the sheer number of forum members too. The longer a forum has been around and the more members it has, the larger the pool of influence on that forum is likely to be. It really will vary from one forum to the next-often the influence bringers are moderators. Usually a senior moderator who's been there forever and read this article many people basically try to win favor and acceptance. Once you've identified them, it's time to start building relationship with these members. Much of this may be familiar to you if you've spent any amount of time marketing in forums. It's all about using common sense, and abiding by the rules that each forum will inevitably set up. Be a good community member and that will take you most of the way.