By :
Scott LindsayCategoryInternetPopularity
Date Published :
2008-10-13 02:40:11
Number Times Read :
5
Do you have any idea how many times search engines are asked compelling questions? I don’t either, but I bet it’s a lot.
Seriously, many consumers will post questions in search engine fields in the hopes of finding an answer or a solution to their dilemma.
This is where your online forum can make a positive claim in a very specific niche of marketing. By creating a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section you may find that visitors may be directed to your site by the questions they pose.
There are a couple of different ways to approach this potentially positive section of your forum. You could spend time in research and develop your own FAQ. You could also enlist the aid of your forum members. They may come up with some great content and may even suggest questions and answers for the section.
For the benefit of the forum community you can ‘sticky’ the responses so they will always get top billing. Most forums are also searchable, but your responses should gain the attention of search engines as well. Make sure you come up with a short enough question with words that might likely be used in a search engine.
Large companies like Yahoo have established online locations where individuals can post questions and allow other visitors to answer the question. They can also rate which answer they believe is the best.
If you make FAQs an important feature in your forum you may find that those who may have once ventured elsewhere might be more inclined to venture to your site – one dedicated to the subject matter in which they are interested.
This can be used to develop better traffic building ideals as well as encouraging visitors to consider becoming members.
Of course the whole idea behind improving traffic is to encourage visitors to engage your primary site.
I’ve written about the benefits of a forum in other articles and I’ve talked about the value of building an online community for the benefit of visitors. This article is designed to show how an extra step on your part can help accelerate the growth of the forum and improve the chances that more visitors find valuable information that will actually provide them with certain benefits.
If you remember that a forum should be designed to help customers and market your business then it becomes easier to find ways to accomplish both goals simultaneously.
If you have received private messages via your forum seeking answers to questions then use those questions as a start for your FAQ section. Invite members to pass along their questions to you or post their questions on the forum and allow members to address their concerns. Use a variety of methods to develop a wealth of information that can be indexed by search engines and consistently available to members and visitors alike.
Many have determined the Internet will be their first choice in locating information. Content continues to meet the demand of online consumers. Your forum should be no different. Make it an information community and perhaps even more potential members will find you through traditional search methods.
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