Are Online Forums Dead? The Relevance of Forum Marketing in 2023 and Beyond!

With the ever-evolving digital landscape, it’s natural to question the relevance of older platforms like online forums in today’s world. Once the go-to for online communities and discussions, forums have seen their use cases narrow significantly over the years.

Forums were once the best platforms for support, success, advocacy/marketing, peer/friendship groups, and user groups. However, new platforms have emerged, offering better solutions for these needs. Where forums do stand out is in their ability to create pages – lots of them. Each discussion or topic becomes a new, indexable page, akin to Wikipedia, making forums an excellent tool for documenting experiences and answers in a searchable format. This feature is especially beneficial for deflecting support tickets, as it allows for easy information retrieval, unlike chat channels which aren’t indexable (FeverBee).

Despite these unique features, forums aren’t usually the best fit for customer success communities anymore. The rise of social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and Medium has drawn experts away from forums. These platforms offer better tools for building reputation, growing audiences, and the potential to go viral. Similarly, peer group and user group interactions have shifted to more modern experiences like Slack, Teams, Discord, Reddit, and Facebook Groups, which offer more seamless real-time discussions (FeverBee).

However, forums are not entirely obsolete, especially when it comes to forum marketing. Forum marketing remains a powerful tool for businesses to build brand presence, generate leads, and establish credibility. By participating in niche-related forums, businesses can connect with their target audience in a more personal and meaningful way. This approach is cost-effective and fosters customer loyalty and trust. Forums also offer invaluable insights into customer needs and challenges, and can significantly improve search engine rankings through active participation and link inclusion (HaveIgnition).

Identifying the right forums is crucial for effective forum marketing. Businesses should choose forums related to their industry where their target audience is active, and which have a good reputation and moderation. A compelling profile, consistent brand identity, and building credibility are key elements of a successful forum marketing strategy (HaveIgnition).

To excel in forum marketing, providing valuable information is essential. This includes sharing industry news, insights, case studies, and personal expertise. Engaging with the community, hosting events, and seeking feedback are also critical for building relationships. Balancing promotional and non-promotional content is vital to maintain audience engagement and interest (HaveIgnition).

While the role of online forums has evolved and their dominance in certain areas has diminished, they are far from dead. Forums continue to offer unique advantages for businesses, especially in terms of marketing and building community relations. The key lies in adapting strategies to the current digital landscape and leveraging forums for their strengths in building connections, sharing knowledge, and enhancing brand visibility.