Promotion for beginners

Promoting your community is vital, otherwise you'll be sat looking at your statistics willing them to magically change.

What you get out of running a community is what you put in and promotion is a grueling task to begin with but the rewards are fruitful.

Where to begin

As well as promoting your new community you are also promoting yourself. The way you conduct yourself on the internet is very important. I find a friendly, fair, approachable and professional attitude works the best for attracting members and business deals such as sponsorship, affiliates.

To start getting your name and community 'out there' the best place to begin is by adding the url into your signature on other forums you frequent and activley participate in.
  • Check every forums rules on self promotion and comply by these rules.
  • Post quality posts - you will not attract members by simply agreeing or putting 'lol' - get people interested in you and what you stand for.
  • Don't spam - respect your fellow admin and the time and effort they have already taken to get their members.


Below is a list of other ways of promotion..
  • Join topsites
  • affiliate with other forums
  • word of mouth
  • ask friends to add it to their blog, website, sig etc...
  • Join web rings etc
  • submit url to as many search engines as possible
  • submit link to as many directories as possible
  • make business cards and drop them in internet cafes, university computer lounges, colleges, doctors surgeries etc

Be inventive and imaginative with promotion.

To find topsites, web rings, search engines and affiliates check other forums, google and the boards support forums.

You have to strive to get traffic to your board, it will not just appear like magic, hard work and determination is vital.

Topsites & Directories

Forum Directories

Tips for Topsites

At first add yourself to topsites that count hits in rather than pageviews giving you the chance to be near the top of the list where you will be noticed more.
Create a banner for the topsites that is eye catching, professional looking and reflects your board. Host this on imageshack or photobucket so you can access the url easily.

Other promotion ideas are www.stumbleupon.com & http://www.plinko.net/roulette/faq.asp - again, use these wisely, respect the rules, don't spam and contribute
Hope this helps you onto the path of promotion