Internet Marketing Down Under Forum - just launched

[Matt Rankin]

Originally Posted by thekrums

I'm with exstatic on this one. The biggest turnoff for any forum is the feeling of emptiness.

You really have a large number of categories for the number of posts you have. How many posts per day do you think it would take to make that many categories look busy ? Maybe consider one of those "Recent activity" sections at the top if you don't want to reduce the categories, or some other form of aggregation.

I agree some of it does look empty, but it's important to get the categorisation correct from the start. It will take a lot more posts, but as long as quality content is being added regularly it should grow. Working on adding several threads/posts to help newcomers to IM get a handle on things.

[paylesstoners]

I am quite interested in IM and still a newbie in that field, would love to learn more. will drop by the forums.

cheers
Jenish

[Khalid Adam]

All the best. Hopefully you won't fuel the false notion of "make money in your underwear".

just like matt rankin, i am also part of a number of public online business like MMD, BHW, BHT, as well as some "by invitation only" forums.

Online marketing is 10X harder than offline. why? because as humans, we tend to give ourselves reasons to not commit and it's ultra hard to address this without being on the phone or in person with a prospective client.

your copy has to be top notch and address the 11 or so reasons why people don't buy. The biggest one being:

"Yes, i can see how it works for others but it won't work for me."

Again, all the best. Just dont end up like the warrior forum where the only ones making money are the ones selling the WSOs and the site owners.

Btw, one of the things you can do is make friends with aussies on the warrior forums and ask for advice on how you should run your forum.

If you get their input, you will also get their participation. After all, they are just another "member" on WF but on your forum, they can be pioneers. leverage their ego and pretty soon you just might have your own "tribe".

[exstatic]

Originally Posted by Matt Rankin

I agree some of it does look empty, but it's important to get the categorisation correct from the start. It will take a lot more posts, but as long as quality content is being added regularly it should grow. Working on adding several threads/posts to help newcomers to IM get a handle on things.

Matt,

I understand what you are saying, but I have run, owned and sold forums over the past few years, even sold one for nearly 6 figures not too long ago.

My model to grow the forum was to start off small then build as the need requires, I have never seen a forum succeed that has lots of categories and sections from its inception.

For an IM forum, why not just do top level categories for now;

- General Internet Marketing
- Search Marketing - SEO, SEM PPC
- Social Media
- Making Money Online
- Buy, Sell, Trade, Hire
- The Lounge (non im related)


Thats all you need, then when you grow, expand them out...

Your forum will look much simpler, easier to navigate and look busy

- oh.. a little trick, create a few dummy user accounts and start some dummy threads on topics of discussion.. forums that have the majority of the threads started by the same user always looks like there are only a few people on it.

Hope that helps.

[Khalid Adam]

Great advice from exsatic.

I have never bought and sold forums but know those who have and this advice is worth it's weight in gold

Falling in love with out product instead of market is one of the greatest sins in business.

What we think the market wants is not always correct.

Study popular forums but start with the categories that are most popular and active.

Originally Posted by exstatic

Matt,

I understand what you are saying, but I have run, owned and sold forums over the past few years, even sold one for nearly 6 figures not too long ago.

My model to grow the forum was to start off small then build as the need requires, I have never seen a forum succeed that has lots of categories and sections from its inception.

For an IM forum, why not just do top level categories for now;

- General Internet Marketing
- Search Marketing - SEO, SEM PPC
- Social Media
- Making Money Online
- Buy, Sell, Trade, Hire
- The Lounge (non im related)


Thats all you need, then when you grow, expand them out...

Your forum will look much simpler, easier to navigate and look busy

- oh.. a little trick, create a few dummy user accounts and start some dummy threads on topics of discussion.. forums that have the majority of the threads started by the same user always looks like there are only a few people on it.

Hope that helps.

[seolyka2]

Hi Matt,

It looks good. You have covered interesting categories about Internet Marketing.

I know it's really hard to promote a brand new forum. It takes a lot of time in inviting more members to sign-up and be active as well as moderating it from spam posts. Hope your forum will grow!