Social Media Optimization – Forum

The last post talked about blogs, and how blogging plays an integral role in social media optimization. To give a quick recall –

Blogs are more like mini websites that anyone can own and maintain. Blogs can be used by organizations and businesses to promote their products or services or also the company at large. Usually blogs have a very personal tone. This also helps in establishing a friendly relationship with readers, customers or casual visitors.

With blogs you can

1. give industry updates to your regular readers,
2. get as close as possible to your target audience or potential customers.

In this post, we will discuss forums and how they can be used for the purpose of social media optimization.

Forums are probably the very first kinds of social media sites. A forum is basically a platform where people of the same interests or varied interests can come and voice their opinion, share knowledge or indulge in chit chat about various topics. Most of the times, the forums are dedicated to a particular vertical/ industry/ field or any particular topic.

Usually the purpose of having a forum is to share and accumulate knowledge and point of view on a particular topic. The most common topic of discussion in forums are automobiles and the auto industry. However, one can have or join a forum of on any subject or theme and enjoy participating in it.

How can forums be used for social media optimization? Forums can be really helpful in your attempt to promote your products / services / organization or site. You can join a forum or start your own forum dedicated to your industry and encourage people to participate and give their input in different ways.

Through forums, you can –

1. Promote your products / services / organization or site.
2. Make people aware about your products and offerings
3. Impart knowledge and know-how
4. Gain an insight on what your competitors are doing
5. Get to know what your customers or potential customers need and expect
6. Assess the popularity of a certain product or service
7. Get expert opinions

Basically you can give and take information through a forum and speak to real people, related to your industry in different ways and get to peep inside other’s minds too. This is also the platform where you can speak about your existence or inform about your new range of products or you can simply give industry updates and stay hooked.