Forums have been advertised a great deal lately as a fantastic way to gain free traffic to your website. The theory behind this is, that you join a forum, create a signature with your link attached and then start interacting with the other members by posting links to websites and affiliate merchants. However, this type of practise is damaging in so many ways. When joining any reputable forums, it is worth bearing in mind that they will not tolerate spamming. If you join a forum and automatically start posting links to your website or affiliates without providing any contribution other than the link itself, then you won't last very long. The chances are that you will be quickly removed from the forum. This happens regularly when newbies, keen to get traffic to their website or affiliates, jump in and spam spam spam. The point is, that as a rule, there are no short cuts to creating quality targeted traffic to your website. If anything, many active members of forums are grossly put off by this type of behaviour.

When joining forums, the best way to behave is to introduce yourself, give a little summary of yourself and your reason for joining the forum, then you can begin to interact. Make sure that when you post a question, it is clear what the question is you are asking. Be concise in your request and maintain politeness to those who respond with beneficial advice or information. Do not post links right away. You may find that many forums have a policy in place that will not allow you to display any links, until you have contributed x number of posts.

Do not treat the forum as merely a means to an end. Treat it with respect by contributing clear and straightforward advice in response to other peoples questions. Make sure your answers are beneficial and directly related to the subject of the post. Do not 'over post' either, this will draw unfavourable attention and people will quickly become sick of seeing you 'butting' in everywhere, or become suspicious of your motives.

The main thing to remember about forums is, to use them in the manner they were designed to be used. To interact, share, discuss, make friends and learn. The people on these forums are there for those reasons also and the more friendships you can build online the better. Treat these people in a manner you would wish to treated yourself. That way, people are way more likely to help you out, guide you and teach you more than you ever thought possible. More so than any ebook or program you could pay for. Forums are full of successful people who become that way by working hard, being determined, experimenting and analysing their chosen subjects. They are the people who know what works and what doesn't. They have usually become successful by doing things the hard way, therefore they don't take wisely to newbies bursting in and trying to spam their way into making a quick dollar here or there.

In summary, use forums in the way they were designed to be used. Treat them with respect, courtesy and contribute wisely. It is by doing this that you will gain invaluable knowledge, tips, insight and learn secrets from some of the most experienced people on the internet.

I'm a mother first and foremost. Everything else comes after my family. I love the internet and all it has to offer. I'm always looking to enhance my online knowledge and love to meet likeminded people to share and discuss ideas with. Everyday is a schoolday as they say, so its great to keep an open mind. If I can help others out along the way thats even better. My latest website http://www.howawebsite.co.uk is aimed at people who want to create a website, or need an online presence quickly, with limited budget and don't know where to begin.

My favourite saying is.... Action Removes Doubt. I attempt to practice this in my life, (within reason lol)...... you'll never know until you try.