Forum marketing - asking questions yourself

A forum is a great place to promote your product. It can help you from creating awareness to developing a good brand image. The first step is to identify the correct forums. Sometimes the results will not be instant but I can assure that the bonds you create with your potential customers would be strong. Answering a question posted in a forum with your brand in your signature is the most obvious way to approach. But did you know that asking the question yourself will work too? Create an account with a more personal name (don’t use the company name or mention about it) and start asking the correct questions. Sample questions would be,

Is there a KFC in your town name goes here?
How to increase the battery life of my iPhone?
What does the colour LEDs of Proporta’s turbo charger mean?

A real example,
http://stackoverflow.com/search?q=force.com

I’m not saying that the above questions were initially asked by force.com with a marketing intention. What I’m trying to say that a marketer could try it out. Even though I took a more technical example, hope you got the point.

You should also keep in mind the following when you get involved in forum marketing.

1. First thing you should do is register on the forum you'd like to post on. You have to wait a few days before you will be able to post in the forum. While waiting, read comments from residents and check on their thoughts and concerns. It is also a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with the each forums rule.

2. When you sense that you're ready, you can start posting in the forums discussion, but be sure to take it unhurried and simple. Begin by answering the remaining questions and concerns of the residents there. This does not mean that you can start to promote your business, don't do that. This may turn the other residents away from you and you can even be prohibited due to spamming. Keep in mind that you want visitors to see you and not to be annoyed by you.

3. You can start earning your reputation on the topic you post. To do this, be sure to assist others with their problems and respond to their questions on what you know.

Think of your questions thoroughly and format them the right way. If you answer a question, research the answer first before you answer so they won't think you don't know what you're doing.