Forums vs social Media

[Dreek Lass]

I have had experiences with advertising on both of these different mediums, and I have to say that I largely prefer to advertise on social media networking sites. It's just simpler for me to do all round, as opposed to signing up with specific forum within the niche of my website, and then having to get a certain amount of posts before I can perform certain actions within the forum. Forums are just a hassle for me that social media networking sites aren't.

Where does most of your traffic come from? Forums or Social media networking sites?

 

[Wrong]

I prefer to advertise on both social networks and forums (they're both effective), but if I didn't have that much to do a lot of advertising, I'd choose forums. I find that, in general, forum users are more computer savvy than the ones who only use their social networking sites. I've seen a lot of people who 'liked' my Facebook page and then signed up on my forum and had no idea how to post a new thread or use the chat feature. On the other hand, users coming from other forums got the hang of it real quick.

I still firmly believe that advertising through forum signatures in sites you're active on is one of the best ways to get more people on your site.

 

[slap2dgroove]

Some forums might work and some may not. The same goes to social networking sites.
Another factor is if you are advertising on the right forum or the right people on those social networking sites.
Unless if you advertise something that is totally different from what you are offering.

 

[DrRipley]

I get most of my traffic from social media. I don't know if it's just because I'm doing anything particularly wrong with forums, but I suspect it's just the way it is. There are probably a lot more people to reach in social media sites nowadays than in forums, and it also helps that your share there could be accompanied with a picture or a video, instead of just having to rely on signatures.

 

[Cybergenius]

Well, that depends on what kind of traffic you need. Do you just need people to come and read and go or you want real members? If you want people to come and read and go, that's social networks. Most people on social networking site don't even know how to register on a forum talk less of posting a thread. All they can do is read and go. There are situations you would even need to explain from people over there what a forum is.

On the other hand, people from forums are experienced people and they have high tendency of joining compared to the former. Nevertheless, combining both together is not such a bad idea. In fact, that's how it should be done.

 

[jaybee19]

I prefer to advertise on both social networks and forums (they're both effective), but if I didn't have that much to do a lot of advertising, I'd choose forums. I find that, in general, forum users are more computer savvy than the ones who only use their social networking sites. I've seen a lot of people who 'liked' my Facebook page and then signed up on my forum and had no idea how to post a new thread or use the chat feature. On the other hand, users coming from other forums got the hang of it real quick.

I still firmly believe that advertising through forum signatures in sites you're active on is one of the best ways to get more people on your site.

I definitely agree with you. Though a lot of people may be in social media, most of them are unaware of forums and some of them doesn't even know how to register for a membership. I'm actually speaking based from my own experience because before, when I was still not in to forums every time I visit one, I always end up clicking exit because I don't know what to do and I also thought that forums were only for smart people. Looking back from my own experience, I guess what you've said in your last sentence is true.

 

[bellaciao]

Forum-style websites would attract more people familiar with forums, however other types of websites generally get a huge amount of traffic through social media websites alone, as long as you advertise in the more popular ones like Facebook or Twitter, and make sure that the content you put out is worthy enough to be consumed by the general public.

 

[J53772]

When it comes to advertising, I have to go with social media since it has a lot more users which increases the probability of people seeing your product and eventually buying your product. The advantage of forums, on the other hand, is that it feels more personal and it brings you closer to your audience but we all know people aren't going crazy for forums these days. So I'd suggest using both since we are dealing with different people with different preferences.

 

[Jasonn]

Social media might censor things more than private forums. In that case, there is a huge appeal. Anyway, though, aside from that, I don't really like social media cause it seems like a monopoly. Does it to you?

 

[ion]

You're right. Posting in social media is much more better than to forums because social media has a lot of users. If you want more visitors you should advertise in social media, although not all the social media users are possible visitors but still there're a lot of chances to visit your site. But posting in some forum sites will give you a lot of inquiries and I'm sure they will participate to the conversation.

 

[Elizabeth_Page]

Most of the traffic comes from social media. It is very common and easy to access for people of any age. Just a few people are familiar with forum sites. But it can give you more profound feedbacks compare to social media that it can be a toxic sometimes. That's why the word "viral" becomes outrageous. Well, since we are dealing more with advertising, so social media is the most convenient.

 

[Barida]

You're right. Posting in social media is much more better than to forums because social media has a lot of users. If you want more visitors you should advertise in social media, although not all the social media users are possible visitors but still there're a lot of chances to visit your site. But posting in some forum sites will give you a lot of inquiries and I'm sure they will participate to the conversation.

While social media has got lots of users and all that, I have come across forums that are doing pretty okay as well and finding traffic on them ain't that bad.

 

[Barida]

Most of the traffic comes from social media. It is very common and easy to access for people of any age. Just a few people are familiar with forum sites. But it can give you more profound feedbacks compare to social media that it can be a toxic sometimes. That's why the word "viral" becomes outrageous. Well, since we are dealing more with advertising, so social media is the most convenient.

The feedbacks is something that many webmasters don't check and there is need for them to really check on that to see the best way.

 

[Barida]

Personally, I have paid huge sums to find leads on forums and none of them was a failure despite the fact that the members ain't much. So, forums are still up there with the best.

 

[Marako0406]

I prefer to advertise on both social networks and forums (they're both effective), but if I didn't have that much to do a lot of advertising, I'd choose forums. I find that, in general, forum users are more computer savvy than the ones who only use their social networking sites. I've seen a lot of people who 'liked' my Facebook page and then signed up on my forum and had no idea how to post a new thread or use the chat feature. On the other hand, users coming from other forums got the hang of it real quick.

I still firmly believe that advertising through forum signatures in sites you're active on is one of the best ways to get more people on your site.

This is true. I believe that forum users are more likely to have an idea of ones content than those just using social media for fun or leisure. I would go for forums as well.

 

[yulicame]

Really depends on the need to have the Internet, each one has to measure the disadvantage or advantage between the forums and social networks, in reality regarding the Forum tends to make an effective way to contact prospect, especially if you choose a forum q EU has to do the topic with what you are promoting, now may be that networks usually wider can be used for any number of issues.

 

[AnneNoir]

For me, Social media is better as it has more users and as of today Social media became a main source of Information and a tool for communication. But in my opinion advertising will be more effective if you are going to use both.

 

[Barida]

This is true. I believe that forum users are more likely to have an idea of ones content than those just using social media for fun or leisure. I would go for forums as well.

That is true in the sense that you get to see that those that are on some forums get to understand it better than what we see on social media sites.

 

[Barida]

For me, Social media is better as it has more users and as of today Social media became a main source of Information and a tool for communication. But in my opinion advertising will be more effective if you are going to use both.

In as much as I have come to notice that what we have with forums ain't that big, I have come to realize that it is more effective when you target those that are really working in the right direction. The thing is that the members will deliver better results than what we see with social sites.

 

[ion]

While social media has got lots of users and all that, I have come across forums that are doing pretty okay as well and finding traffic on them ain't that bad.

That's the good thing about the forums, members are there to participate on specific topic, that's why if you going to advertise there with specific topic, I'm sure they will become interested, compare to social media which is looks like a general discussion.