The Power of Forum Posting

Forums and Online discussion boards are where like-minded people go to find answers to their questions. And solutions to their problems. So, if you are an expert in your field, why can't you be the hero of the day that resolves their issues?

Understanding Forum Posting

Forum posting can be a daunting task. First, you have to find forums targeted to your industry. Then you have to sift through topics and categories. ( some people post questions in wrong sections.) And this can take up a lot of your valuable time. It can be difficult to find a good Forum, since some Forums shut down due to an uncontrollable amount of spam.

Please note: Becoming a Forum spammer is something that you do not want to do. Instead use your Forum Posting strategy as a soft sell approach. Remember people are looking for answers & suggestions, not an attack on their pockets. So, when you find a quality Forum geared towards your target market, your goal should be to create value for them.

A simple way to create value is to answer their questions in a thoughtful and sincere way. Tell them what they want to hear and mean it. Don't try to make a sale right out the gate. Eventually, they will be coming to your site to purchase your goods and services, because you took time to really listen, understand, analyze and solve their problems.

What is Search Engine Optimization? (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization seems to be the talk of the town nowadays. Exactly, what is SEO or Search Engine Optimization? Simply put, SEO is the process of optimizing your web pages with targeted keywords that will lead visitors to your website. For example, if you owned a custom bicycle shop, you would write an article and place the keyword " custom bicycle" throughout your article.

The goal of the search engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN) is to index websites. And match websites to the most relevant keyword that is performed in the search. So, if you own a custom bicycle shop, you want to make sure your site is about custom bicycles and not little mermaids.

Keyword Analysis

You may hear all the talk about keyword placement and targeted keywords. Before you begin a SEO campaign, it is crucial to make sure you have the correct keywords. You may think your prospects are searching for " custom bicycles" when in fact, they may be searching for " man made bikes". There are free to fee based tools that will assist you in choosing the correct keywords. I won't go in to much detail here, but I will a powerful tool that can help your SEO efforts.

• www.wordtracker.com- this powerful tools seems to be the Microsoft of all keyword tools. It is an extremely useful tool that even allows you to do a detailed competitive anaylsis. The only downside is that it cost some money. However, it's at a very affordable rate. Many SEO consultants use wordtracker as a tool of their choice, but you can sign up for a free 7 day trial and make the most of it. Chances are, you will be so amazed with how great this keyword tool works that you will want to continue your subscription.

Optimizing your pages

Once you have your money making keywords it is time for you to start optimizing your pages. And the way you optimize your page is by writing articles. A simple rule of thumb to follow : always write for your reader and not the search engine. In SEO, it is important that you follow proper keyword placement. Here is a tiny blueprint of how keywords should be placed:

1. Primary Keyword in Title & Title Page
2. Primary Keyword in First Paragraph
3. Primary Keyword per every 100 words written
4. Secondary Keywords sprinkled throughout your article

Search Engine Optimization is not rocket science, but it is not kindergarten math either. There are so many factors that can make or break an SEO campaign. It's all about learning, implementing and tweaking as you move along.