Strategy Word-of-mouth... the best advertising strategy?

[Bryn]

In the years I managed forums, I always found that word-of-mouth is the best strategy to get members on your forum, as long as you know the person very well and trust them to bring in like-minded people for the forum itself to flourish that way. In fact, I even encourage it on an occasional basis.

What about you? Do you do this yourself and have you found the benefit of it? And do you agree that it's the best way for your community to grow and flourish?

Discuss...

 

[Cedric]

Being well known helps tremendously in building a community. Networking is both on and offline a very important and underrated thing. So I definitely agree with you there.

 

[Cpvr]

Word of mouth is one of the best advertising methods. That’s why you should have banners and buttons that users can use to link back to your forum, as well as share buttons for users to share your content onto social media.

 

[Wise Owl]

To be honest, I have no idea. I am not good at it and I am still learning how to do so. I just made affiliate thingy. I go from forum to forum and advertise it by putting data there. I also try with post exchange thingy but I don't find that fruitful enough other than pumping those numbers up.

 

[Al]

Word of mouth can be successful if you have willing ears to hear your words. Otherwise it is just shouting into the void.

 

[Cedric]

Otherwise it is just shouting into the void.

Reminds me of 90% of our conversations.

 

[Al]

Only 90%?

 

[Arantor]

Remember, even if you say it 100 times, it might be that 100th time that is the trigger to do something with it.

 

[Bawse]

Word of mouth works, but I find promoting online to users that regularly use forums works better if you want members that contribute.

 

[Cloaked]

People tend to be more receptive of something if a friend told them about it. I think word of mouth might be the best way to get people to your community.