By helping other forum members gain clarity on the use of a product or service you effectively become an ambassador for the product you carry.

I can almost hear you asking, “How does this benefit me?”

In most newsgroups or forums you are allowed to place a link to your website in the signature box in the profile section of your account.

This may not seem like much, but every time you post to a forum or newsgroup your link is placed on the site for all to see.

When others begin to see you as an authority they will likely click your link to see what you offer. Since there is already a level of trust, a sale may be just a few keystrokes away.

Another step that lends credibility to your authority on the subject you address is the use of free-to-use articles.

By developing a series of articles on a relevant subject you can develop a new level of trust.

Using the Techniques

Let's say I have a classic Oldsmobile and there is an electrical issue I have been unable to solve. I determine to seek out a forum designed to assist owners of classic GM automobiles. Once I have located the forum I post a question related to the automobile and hope someone answers.

Taking this one more step; let's say you have developed a web-based business dedicated to helping classic car owners find solutions to their automotive issues. You reply to my post and tell me there is a retrofit kit available that can help fix the problem. You go on to give a simple definition on how to install the kit and provide a link to an article you wrote on the subject.

I could conduct on online search for the product you described, but I determine to use the link in your signature to locate the part you described.

Once the part is installed I return to the forum to lavish praise on the solution you provided. You have found a satisfied and motivated customer who has just given you endorsement money could not buy.