Internet Marketing Tycoon

**Dan Kenitz** · 07-29-2006, 11:22 PM

I listend to Shoemoney's show today that had good old Lee Dodd on it, and they talked about a lot of stuff, but only a little of it dealt with getting traffic to a new site.

I run a newer forum and was wondering if anyone who's gotten a lot of members on a forum can post any advice or stories they have about how THEY did it.

**Tran** · 07-30-2006, 12:03 AM

Who says we all own forums

**Dan Kenitz** · 07-30-2006, 12:03 AM

Answering my question with a question, lol. You're good. Feel free to apply your personal experience with web pages in general.

**vidking** · 07-30-2006, 12:15 AM

i run a forum that grows at 100-200 members per day.. you just have to have the right content and it should all be viral.. even look at how fast this site.. EF is growing

**northpark** · 07-30-2006, 01:31 AM

I have not owned any forums, but most success stories I hear come from people who have advertised in publications or as them themselves. As the latter is usually more difficult, I suggest you invest a few thousand dollars into a Magazine ad, whether it be local or a nationwide magazine.

**IsMaR** · 07-30-2006, 01:48 AM

I been thinking about newspaper/magazine promotion and such, has anyone actually tried it first hand?

**Tran** · 07-30-2006, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Kenitz

Answering my question with a question, lol. You're good. Feel free to apply your personal experience with web pages in general.

I have driven traffic from link exchanges, word of mouth, local advertising.

**Hoang** · 07-30-2006, 02:04 AM

I post a lot at various forums so I have my linky in the signature. It's a good way to advertise your stuff and cure boredom at the same time

My first forum, it was mainly giving incentives to new members such as access to private forums. I also became good friends with about 10 of my moderators and they do a good job getting new members and getting the word out about the forum.

**nocturnix** · 07-30-2006, 03:29 AM

Really I think if you have the right idea its just a matter of tipping it over. Reaching critical mass. Then the rest is viral.

As for the beginning, there are lots of ways, do your research. There already is some good information on these forums. But dont stop there.

**imported_Tony** · 07-30-2006, 03:43 AM

Well my forum is growing very fast... about 100+ a day. Should be growing faster soon... as it is only 10 days old =X (The one in my sig yea)

**Dumi** · 07-30-2006, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

Well my forum is growing very fast... about 100+ a day. Should be growing faster soon... as it is only 10 days old =X (The one in my sig yea)

If you dont mind me asking how are you getting all this traffic, link exchange?

**imported_Tony** · 07-30-2006, 03:58 AM

Yes basicly link exchange with good niche rich keyword. Well basicly my site is about an up comming online game and I hit the jackpot by making the site first.

**Dumi** · 07-30-2006, 04:03 AM

Gotcha, pssh most of the webmasters I've sent emails requesting link exchange never reply.

**netrom** · 07-30-2006, 06:56 AM

Do you have your own list of subscribers? That would be another way...

**Tran** · 07-30-2006, 07:37 AM

I think you should also.. try MySpace technique :\ Lots of people are driving traffic that way.. Although it isn't the most ethical way.. It works.

**Jeff Hester** · 07-30-2006, 01:10 PM

Here's what's worked for me:

Tireless self-promotion. Get all your friends and family to get involved, and get them to get all their friends involved, and so on.
Quality posting and writing elsewhere. If you post good stuff, people naturally want to find out more about you and what you're up to. Of course this implies that you also have...
Links in your signature. This goes for forums, and only helps if you post. Hint, post in popular topics. And don't forget your email signature, too.
Link exchanges. Find a few other decent sites with good traffic and do some link exchanges. Personally, I believe they should be topically related to your own site.
Adwords. This can give you a quick boost. Be sure to have a custom landing page that clearly sells your site.
T-Shirts. Depends on your demographics, but if you've got some cool swag, it does wonders in the teen/college-age market. I give'em away to our Member of the Month.
Contests. Give away something tangible, like a t-shirt (that also promotes your site). Bigger contests (like Lee's contest here at EarnersForum) bring bigger results. Try different things and have fun with it.
Email. If your site includes membership, make sure your TOS allows you to email them (and gives them a way to opt-out). Then do it! Email them something useful a couple times a month. It drives repeat traffic to the site.
Your email address. Use your email address as a subtle form of advertising. Works best if you've got a memorable domain name.
Business cards. Have some printed up with your URL, email address, and IM accounts. I use my cell phone for my business phone, and a PO Box for mail. Exchange them at conferences, clubs, meetings, etc.
Sponsorships. Sponsor another website. Sponsor a golf tournament. Sponsor a local user group.
Speaking. Get out and talk to people. Your website targets a certain group of people. There are conferences, user groups and clubs for most of those same groups, so go to them. Running a website makes you an expert, so in most cases they'll be glad to let you speak. Get good at it, and they'll even pay you!
Digg, Reddit, Techorati, et.al. This can bring a flood of traffic, and though some argue that most Diggers won't return, it builds brand recognition for your site and (over time) that's a good thing. But don't try to game the system or the Diggnation will bury you.

Those have all worked for me.

**mason** · 07-30-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony

Well my forum is growing very fast... about 100+ a day. Should be growing faster soon... as it is only 10 days old =X (The one in my sig yea)

omg.. i only wish. my forums have 3 members. me, admin(which is me), and a friend. lol

**lithman** · 07-30-2006, 11:41 PM

My forum is 2 months old and I have 200 people. I've done $100 on Adwords and the Myspace thing. I just can't get the people to sign up. I avg like 40 return uniques a day and 40 first timers. I really need to boost my traffic.

Jeff your post was great and I will surely try out a few of your techniques, especially the looking for local groups thing.

**Dan Kenitz** · 07-31-2006, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Hester

Here's what's worked for me:

Tireless self-promotion. Get all your friends and family to get involved, and get them to get all their friends involved, and so on.
Quality posting and writing elsewhere. If you post good stuff, people naturally want to find out more about you and what you're up to. Of course this implies that you also have...
Links in your signature. This goes for forums, and only helps if you post. Hint, post in popular topics. And don't forget your email signature, too.
Link exchanges. Find a few other decent sites with good traffic and do some link exchanges. Personally, I believe they should be topically related to your own site.
Adwords. This can give you a quick boost. Be sure to have a custom landing page that clearly sells your site.
T-Shirts. Depends on your demographics, but if you've got some cool swag, it does wonders in the teen/college-age market. I give'em away to our Member of the Month.
Contests. Give away something tangible, like a t-shirt (that also promotes your site). Bigger contests (like Lee's contest here at EarnersForum) bring bigger results. Try different things and have fun with it.
Email. If your site includes membership, make sure your TOS allows you to email them (and gives them a way to opt-out). Then do it! Email them something useful a couple times a month. It drives repeat traffic to the site.
Your email address. Use your email address as a subtle form of advertising. Works best if you've got a memorable domain name.
Business cards. Have some printed up with your URL, email address, and IM accounts. I use my cell phone for my business phone, and a PO Box for mail. Exchange them at conferences, clubs, meetings, etc.
Sponsorships. Sponsor another website. Sponsor a golf tournament. Sponsor a local user group.
Speaking. Get out and talk to people. Your website targets a certain group of people. There are conferences, user groups and clubs for most of those same groups, so go to them. Running a website makes you an expert, so in most cases they'll be glad to let you speak. Get good at it, and they'll even pay you!
Digg, Reddit, Techorati, et.al. This can bring a flood of traffic, and though some argue that most Diggers won't return, it builds brand recognition for your site and (over time) that's a good thing. But don't try to game the system or the Diggnation will bury you.

Those have all worked for me.

Awesome stuff. What kind of traffic are you pulling, and how long did it take?

**LightInClouds** · 07-31-2006, 03:01 AM

i m not growing real fast as i m kinda stuck in regional forum and language