As a professional photographer I am constantly looking for new ways of promoting my online photography business. Using photography forums is a new way to help create more exposure for my website, by giving advice and tips to amateur photographers, and also involves me with people who share a common interest.

Photography forums are a great source of free advertisement. Any of us that have paid for online ads in the past know how quickly we can waste money with very little return in sales.

Photography forums are a great means for a photographer to promote their business as long as they use them with common sense. Thousands of amateur photographers are constantly seeking tips and advice on how to improve their photography. Forums work by professionals answering questions and giving advice to those who seek it.

Photographers who are using these forums as a form of free advertising should create a link to their website after every post they write. This gives the people who read your comment an opportunity to click the link to your site. If you post a comment that has little relevance to the forum topic people will glance over what you have written and won't visit your site.

Registering for any forum you are interested in will take just a few minutes and once registered you are free to post as many threads as you wish. Most questions can be answered in less that fifty words - if you create great tips people will automatically click the link at the bottom of the thread and thus enter your site.

For amateurs who seek information there's no better place to get free advice and tips. They cover most photographic topics with the larger forums attracting thousands of professional photographers each day.

Amateurs should not be afraid to ask the simple questions. This is why the forums exist.

Even if you do not want to become a member of a forum they are a great source of information. Most forums will allow you to browse the content of each topic, but you will not be able to compose or post a comment without registering.

Different online forums offer different topics. Some forums deal only with digital photography while others are created for particular elements of photography. The Goldprints photography forum has a buy and sell section where photographers can buy or sell used equipment. Other forums allow you to share images online and most are full of great tips and advice.

Any person using an online photography forum for spamming, or misuse a forum in any way will have their e-mail address blocked along with their IP address. So don't abuse what is a great source of information for so many. People from all over the world use these photography forums for all sorts of reasons. If you want to talk about religious or political issues for example, you should use a forum that has a similar theme.

Most of us have different reasons for joining online forums - some join to be part of a special community, more join to create exposure for their own business, while others join to get information and advice about their hobbies. Regardless of the reason we join photography forums, they are a great place to share a common interest.