How To Promote A New Forum?

conorod

I have just set up a new forum, and at the moment it is getting very little traffic. I have worked on SEO but Google has only started to index it.
Can anyone suggest some good ways of promoting a new forum?

notnem

This link here might give you some ideas:

http://www.seorefugee.com/seoblog/2007/02/08/10-tips-for-promoting-your-forum/

A forum can take time go gain traction and you'll be dealing with a lot of spam at the start.

mneylon

Promoting a forum is not easy. I run several and only a couple of them are getting any regular activity.

conorod

Thanks for the advice.
Would using adwords get a lot of new members?

ditpaintball

Indeed developing a forum is hard work, specially if it is not a unique forum where there are loads of alternatives. I have been working on mine for two years and now I am only starting to see some decent traffic 20k unique visitors last month as opposed to 500 in jan 07.... well I think its decent

You need to have unique content that will come up in search engines - not not people will find other forums and join / read there
You need to have a easy to use forum also

conorod

Thanks for the advice, I have tried to make the forum as easy as possible to use.
I have also started 2 contests, a monthly one to win a year's business hosting + domain from digiweb, and another big one with over 15 different prizes.:)

Anouilh

The Irish Webmasters Forum continue to be a source of good tips and many of the members there also post on Boards.ie.

This might give some ideas:

http://www.irishwebmasterforum.com/search-engine-optimisation/7908-blogs-as-publicity.html

Anouilh

The Irish Webmasters Forum continues to be a source of good tips and many of the members there also post on Boards.ie.

This might give some ideas:

http://www.irishwebmasterforum.com/search-engine-optimisation/7908-blogs-as-publicity.html

Timbo07

You can try www.linkreferral.com you have to do some work but it can drive traffic and sturr up some interest.