Hi Olusola
You should approach business forums with the right INTENTION, which should be to learn, help and network, rather than seeing it just as a place to post your links.
When a forum is just full of people posting their links, it devalues the forum. People will stop reading, or leave.
Look at our SFI forum, posting of links is against the rules. This is great, because it means that most of the content in our forum is genuine advice and help. The really helpful posts are not drowned in a sea of self-promotional spamming of links.
Find a good-quality business forum. Google something that would be helpful to your business, like 'how to build a business website' and add 'forum' to the search, so 'how to build a business website forum'. Or use a search on something in business which you are really good and experienced with, and add 'forum' to the search.
With Facebook, join legitimate business focus groups, not just those groups which are full of links. People are not in those groups to help, they are only there to post their links and not read other posts. These are often a sure-fire way of getting sent to 'Facebook Jail'!
Join good business groups and forums and read the posts. Be genuinely interested. Find something that you can reply to, intend to add your own value to the discussion.
Don't even mention your own business!
In the forums, you will have your own profile, and you will be able to add a 'signature'. In your profile, write something about yourself, your background, your life, how and why you decided to have your own home business. In the signature, you can add a link to your gateway or, preferably, a link to your own website or blog.
When you add to a discussion in the forum, the link to your profile and your signature will be visible to other users. If what you are contributing is useful to other members, they will be interested in you and will click on your profile or your signature.
There is a concept in network marketing known as KLT - Know, Like, Trust - also known as 'attraction marketing'. When people get to know, like and trust you, they will be attracted to you and what you have to offer. Don't try and get them interested in SFI, aim to get them interested in YOU!
Think about our own Forum Guru program here in the SFI Forum. What does it take to become a Forum Guru? Providing useful, clear posts that help other users. Whether you are beginning a new thread, or replying to somebody else's, the intention should be 'How can I help you?' rather than 'What's in it for me?'. Aim to become a Forum Guru in your home business forums.
Participate in the forum as if you are helping your own team, colleagues and peers. When what you provide is of value, members will 'follow' you.
They will not join your business immediately. They will need time to KLT you. So you will need to be a regular and consistent visitor and contributor to the forum.
Don't focus on money or income or signups. Focus on the knowledge you can give and receive, the relationships and connections you are building. Show genuine interest in your fellow forum members. Look for posts that will help you, and thank that forum member for their help. Get others to notice you for your contribution, remember your profile and signature is visible on every post.
I hope this is helpful to you and others. To your success!
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Hi Olusola
You should approach business forums with the right INTENTION, which should be to learn, help and network, rather than seeing it just as a place to post your links.
When a forum is just full of people posting their links, it devalues the forum. People will stop reading, or leave.
Look at our SFI forum, posting of links is against the rules. This is great, because it means that most of the content in our forum is genuine advice and help. The really helpful
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