Marketing Via Messageboards & E-mail Discussion Lists - An Alternative View

One of the most suggested means of getting traffic to a site in the early stages is to get involved in messageboard and e-mail discussions on your topic of choice. The idea is that you can show your expertise and therefore get traffic to your site via your signature file (most discussion lists allow you to include your signature file with your post - a few lines with your name, site address and maybe a very brief description). Whilst this is a valid tip, I don't believe that the real reason for why you should do this has been investigated far enough previously.

Firstly, if you post an ad for your site on a discussion list, your are spamming and will create a bit of a fiasco. This does not make good business sense. So, the way to do it is to look for people asking questions and answer them. The issue here is your reasons for doing this. If your reason is purely to drive traffic to your site, you probably won't be terribly successful and, sometimes, people will work out what you are up to. Therefore, your goal should be to be seen as an expert in your field, not to get traffic to your site.

Even if you don't include a signature with your posts, you can still make a name for yourself and, in the long term, this will prove to be a far more profitable approach. I have visited many discussion lists in my time and it is easy to see the people that have gained respect. From a business point of view, they are the ones who will benefit from this approach, not the people who post simple answers to try to get an immediate effect.

Your goal must always be to achieve success in your online venture and your personal credibility will play a major role in this. So, when looking at marketing on messageboards and in E-mail discussion lists, establishing your credentials as an expert in your field must be your number one priority, not short term traffic generation methods.

About The Author

Sean Burns is the author of the WebmastersReference.com Newsletter - http://www.webmastersreference.com/newsletter. More than five years of experience in site design, marketing, income generation, search engine optimisation and more is passed on to subscribers - hype free. Sign up today to get real information of real value to webmasters.

seanb@webmastersreference.com

New Haven Independent
More Greers, No More “Forums”
New Haven Independent,  USA - 13 hours ago
The time is over for “forums” (like one scheduled Tuesday night at Berger Apartments) about the recent spate of murder and other shootings in the ...
Alderman Shah calls for more citizen patrols New Haven Register (subscription)
all 2 news articles

Gwinnett Citizen
Express Yourself! Forums
Gwinnett Gazette, GA - 11 hours ago
Sweet Bannister Land Deal - 2008/07/08 17:49 Here is the kind of sweetheart land deal that we all wish we could make. I guess being the Chairman has its ...
Express Yourself! Forums Gwinnett Gazette
Express Yourself! Forums Gwinnett Gazette
Express Yourself! Forums Gwinnett Gazette
all 5 news articles

PR Web (press release)
Cameldog.net Forums Launched - the Premier UFC and MMA Online ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 17 hours ago
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cameldog.net is pleased to announce the launch of the Cameldog Mixed Martial Arts Forums, a truly international Ultimate ...
Ultimate Fighting Tries to Gain a Foothold in Europe New York Times
all 12 news articles

MMAjunkie.com
Check out the MMAjunkie.com MMA Forums
MMAjunkie.com, OH - 11 hours ago
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jul 08, 2008 at 5:40 pm ET As a reminder, the MMAjunkie.com MMA Forums are open. If you haven't done so already, register for your ...
Deep bone bruise for Quinton Jackson, due back in gym next week MMAjunkie.com
all 2 news articles

Strickland's forums on school funding will buy him some time ...
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com, OH - 34 minutes ago
Twelve school-funding forums Gov. Ted Strickland plans look like public relations exercises: The topic is hardly rocket science, even if funding factors ...

Candidate forums set in Highland, White Lake
Milford Times, MI - 15 hours ago
By Philip Allmen • Editor • July 8, 2008 The Highland Business Association is hosting a pair of public candidate forums for Highland and White Lake ...

Seattle > Forums > Seattle Hardball > So with Bedards latest stiff ...
InsidethePark.com (subscription), WA - 6 hours ago
would we be better off keeping him for the rest of the year. Get him healthy for the 2nd half of the season so he can show his stuff. ...

Campbell schedules forums to discuss uniform proposal
Beaufort Gazette, SC - 12 hours ago
Beaufort County Board of Education member Earl Campbell will host five town hall meetings this month. He will seek input from the public about the board's ...

Community forums on Beaufort Co. uniform proposal
WSAV-TV, GA - 17 hours ago
Beaufort County School Board member Earl Campbell is holding five community forums to discuss the uniform proposal. Campbell, who represents the ...

100% Free Leeds United Forums
Vitalfootball, UK - 15 hours ago
It's very easy to sign up with Vital Leeds United, simply click the link and enjoy getting involved. Have your say: This website is your website and we are ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

11 Ways To Increase Forums Activities