| Before going into the pros and cons of having a | | | | names, this allows you to follow up and email |
| forum on a site let's first explain what forums | | | | them in the future with information about your |
| actually are. Most of you are familiar with them | | | | product or service. They won't consider it as |
| but mightn't have heard the term 'forum' before. | | | | spam because they know who you are. |
| Well forums are just another name for discussion | | | | Forums allow you to gain creditability with your |
| boards, message boards and other names. They | | | | websites visitors as you can reply to posts that |
| enable users of a website to interact with each | | | | are looking for help and by doing this you're letting |
| other by exchanging tips and discussing hot topics | | | | everyone know that you are an expert on the |
| related to a websites theme. | | | | topic of your website. They're much more likely |
| Forums save information posted on a particular | | | | to buy from you if you know what you're talking |
| topic for other people to see at any time, this | | | | about! |
| creates a discussion environment. Everything that | | | | Building relationships with your visitors is easy with |
| gets posted gets read again and again. The fact | | | | forums. If you post regularly and actively discuss |
| that the discussion isn't real time means that it | | | | different topics with your forum members then |
| rarely turns into heated arguments as people are | | | | gradually you'll get to know them and more |
| given time to research and consider their | | | | importantly they'll get to know you. People are |
| comments before replying, this makes for mostly | | | | much more likely to buy a product or service |
| high-quality discussion. | | | | when someone they know sells or recommends |
| Forums allow you to create robust online | | | | it. |
| communities even with low traffic volumes since | | | | Onto the downside of having a forum. Creating |
| people often return to the site on a regular basis | | | | successful forums is not by any sense of the |
| to catch up on whats happened since then. | | | | word easy, they involve a tremendous amount of |
| Now to continue onto the main bulk of this article, | | | | work to get them started. Nobody likes to post |
| forums have five major benefits to a webmaster | | | | on an empty forum so you've to actively |
| which include: | | | | promote it and create lots of topics for discussion |
| Allowing you to get educational information on | | | | yourself, if these topics are interesting then you |
| your site. | | | | should get a few replies. You've to do this self |
| Allowing you to increase traffic through repeat | | | | posting on a continuous basis for months, |
| visitors. | | | | sometimes weeks but mostly months before a |
| Allowing you to capture email address and details | | | | steady flow of topics and replies are posted by |
| of posters. | | | | your forums members. |
| Allowing you to gain more creditability. | | | | That's only to get people talking, next you've to |
| Allowing you to build relationship with visitors. | | | | administer it or moderate it as it's usually called. |
| Having a medium to high traffic forum on a | | | | This means making sure posts are appropriate |
| website will increase the value of it as members | | | | and that members are not spamming your forum. |
| of forums are very knowledgeable about the | | | | This has to be done on a daily basis and if your |
| topic at hand and they'll usually try to show this in | | | | forum gets busy it's going to be very time |
| their posts thus creating lots of information and | | | | consuming. Once again the main disadvantage with |
| tips which visitors to your site can use. | | | | forums is the amount of time and effort required |
| With lots of information and discussion being | | | | to get them started and maintain them. |
| exchanged in your forums visitors will return again | | | | However don't let that put you off the idea, |
| and again to see replies to their posts, read | | | | forums are great for increasing your traffic and |
| others posts and basically to see if anything has | | | | increasing the profits you make on your website. |
| changed. This creates a sticky website which is | | | | After the initial time involved to start it up and |
| what every webmaster wants, as new members | | | | the time it takes to get people to talk you'll start |
| join your forum your traffic will gradually grow | | | | to see the benefits that your forum is bringing |
| week after week. | | | | and the time needed to maintain it will seem less |
| In most forums people who want to post have | | | | and less each time you see your traffic and |
| to register by giving their email address and | | | | profits going up. |