Business related internet forums are a great source of helpful information. Whether you are talking about marketing, public relations, search engine optimization, or blogging in general, there is a business forum out there for you.
A great example of a forum, by bloggers and about blogging, is Blogger Talk. As a blogger, you will want to become a regular visitor and poster at that great message board. I am a regular poster, and serve as a Moderator, at Blogger Talk.
Some other helpful forums include Web Pro World which has a section on blogs, and Best Practices Forum where they promise to answer every question. You will also want to visit Top25Web where I often post answers to various questions, mainly relating to search engine optimization.
Often overlooked by many bloggers, is the fact that posting in forums is a tremendous marketing vehicle for your blog.
Most forums allow for, and often encourage, the use of a posting signature. In the signature, you are able to place a link back to your blog, and provide a brief blog description. That signature, or sig line, is attached to every post you make in the forums. If you provide good helpful posts, many people will click that link, and discover your site to read more of your advice.
By posting good informative answers to questions, you develop a solid reputation for being knowledgeable in your industry. Be sure to be polite in your posts, and don't become angry or hostile, if someone disagrees with your advice. They may simply looking at the question from another point of view.
Many sites include a section that lets you post a notice about your blog. Take advantage of that opportunity, because many people look through those threads, for new sites to visit. Your blog may as well be one of them.
If there is a "site review" section, don't be afraid to let your site be considered for review. There might be a few problems with your site, or it may have design or content shortcomings. If so, it's better to hear about them from other posters in the group, than have the general public avoid your blog. Otherwise, the problems could go undetected, to your detriment.
Many forums, but not all of them, are designed to be crawled by the various search engine spiders. If your blog is having difficulty into getting into Google, for example, the forum is a great way for the spider to find you. The link in your signature line, back to your site, provides a good path for the spider to travel.
Be sure to register at some business related forums today.
I look forward to reading your posts!
