An Internet forum is a facility on the World Wide Web for holding discussions, or the web application software used to provide the facility. Web-based forums, which date from around 1995, perform a similar function as the dial-up bulletin boards and Internet newsgroups that were numerous in the 1980s and 1990s. A sense of virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, computer games, and politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of different topics.
Internet forums are also commonly referred to as web forums, message boards, discussion boards, discussion forums, discussion groups, bulletin boards or simply forums.
The smaller forums are often based around a single subject. Usually there is an “off-topic” forum where users can post any items they find interesting or play “forum games”. Larger Internet forums are in general more subject to public conflicts between users. Depending on the level of moderation there may also be conflicts between users and administrators.
Like other forms of online communication, Internet forums are home to many heated exchanges and rivalries. Often, administrators and moderators ask users to conform to netiquette; if they leave a forum unmoderated it may degenerate and become useless for discussion. Forums, however, can also become extremely addicting.
I belong to several Internet Marketing forums. Even though my days are usually pretty busy, I ALWAYS make time to post to my favorite forums, even if it’s just posting an article I’ve recently written.
Why? Because numbers don’t lie. And according to my raw log data, roughly 50 percent of my traffic is coming from the forums I frequent. And that traffic has converted into a few sales as well. So yeah, I make time for my favorite forums.
Forum traffic has also helped drive my website ranking into the top 1 percent of all websites, according to Alexa. Considering my website’s only been online a couple of months, that’s pretty impressive.
However, just like in life, there are good forums and bad forums. Listed below are the 5 best forums in my opinion. They are listed in order of quality, professionalism and personal preference:
1. Copywritersboard.com–As its name suggests this forum revolves around copywriting discussions. I actually lurked on this forum for almost 3 years before I got up enough courage to make my first post.
Why? Because I was intimidated by the awesome talent on the board. This forum, without question has the most talented members of any Internet Marketing forum. I wanted to make sure I had my act together before posting.
A word of warning: Copywritersboard.com is not for the faint of heart. Along with all of that talent, comes enormous egos, yours truly included. So, if you’re more of a humble, laid-back personality, you may find this forums ostentatious personality a bit disconcerting.
That said, when it comes to quality posts, extraordinarily knowledgeable members and moderators, this board is hands down the best around! Highly recommended.
2. Selfstartersweeklytips.com/forum–This is an excellent forum. It attracts mostly “newbies” and a high percentage of WAHM (Work-At-Home-Moms). It has extremely competent moderators and friendly, welcoming members. The forums focus revolves around providing newbies with free or low-cost Internet Marketing resources. Highly recommended.
3. Warriorforum.com/forum–This is another good forum. The discussion board is open to all, but is especially aimed at Warrior members. It may seem a bit unstructured, but you’ll find a lot of helpful posts there. In fact, I’ll venture to say, you’ll find some information there that you can’t find anywhere else.
If you’re into JV’s (Joint Ventures), this is the forum for you. But before you can post your offer in the forum, they ask that you contribute something of value to the forum first. In fact, the forum clearly states: WARNING: If your first post to our forum is a “Joint Venture” deal it will be deleted. We ask that you try to give some value here first “before” you ask for Joint Ventures.
The Warrior site has high traffic, and as a result many of the visitors constitute a more targeted market than Internet-surfers in general. It appears to be a close-knit community, and is definitely worth checking out. Recommended.
4. internetbasedmoms.com/bb/–This is an excellent forum. As its name suggests, it caters to WAHM (Work-At-Home-Moms).
Internet based moms online business resource center has been designed for moms who are choosing an online business, building web pages, and learning to promote their business online.
The forum appears to have friendly, welcoming members and the moderators are extremely competent as well. Highly recommended.
5. businessknowhow.com/forum–If you own a small business, this is the best small business forum on the Internet. Business Know-How is an award-winning small business destination site for home offices and small businesses and is known for providing practical information about starting, growing and managing small and home-based businesses. The Business Know-How web site and newsletter together reach 1.5 million individuals each year.
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