Where is the best place to advertise a parenting and pregnancy forum?

Question

I have a new parenting and pregnancy forum that has been live since the 10th April (http://www.precious-babes.com) it is sponsored by another forum that is generating some traffic but I am not getting enough members actually registering, I have done lots of free submits google, yahoo - links on Myspace etc.

Where would you recommend the best place to advertise to get members registering and active? Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Try Ads-Promoter.com

They have very cheap advertising campaigns. They use proxy bidding. It is kind of like an auction. You only pay the highest bid.

http://www.ads-promoter.com

Answer 2

Forums grow at a frustratingly slow rate, because they are by their very nature organic.  It's also a saturated market - with Google groups, and so forth out there, it can be hard to get started.

1. Make the forum appear active.  Yes, sometimes this requires a "rent a crowd" LOL... but you need all of your areas to have double or triple digit post counts.

2. Reply to posts fast.  Whenever a post is made make sure you're "ON IT" and quick.  Use RSS and other tools to help you increase your performance.

3. Relentlessly remove spam - and yes, it's frustrating as it can be.  Put in lots of 'block' words on your forum settings to prevent any nastiness.

4. Bring in guest members who are professionals (e.g. an expert on post-partum depression, or an expert in meditation while pregnant.)  They'll often answer questions for free for a week.  Use your forums "message all" function to let everyone know they'e coming and ask them to "send a friend."  -- you set up a special forum section for them right at the top.

5. Use low-cost pay-per-click or pay-per-1000 marketing.  Especially when the expert is coming.  Your ads can be set to very low cost levels.  Your ad might appear (in Google)

Questions about Pregnancy?

This week - free Q&A with ideas

of how to make things go well!

...for example.

6.  Ask other, complimentary forums or blogs to link to you.  Set up a "thanks to the linkerarti" section where you give links back to those folks.

7. Give away banners to people who can send you regular traffic.  Yes, give away.  I know it hurts but later you can reap the rewards.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Scott Clark

Web Marketing Strategist

http://www.sitecreations.com