People have opinions…..about just about everything. People like to read what
other people think about subjects that are important to them. The Internet has
provided a platform where anybody with an Internet connection has the ability to
state their opinions and/or read the opinions of others.

Every minute of everyday somewhere in the world hundreds, even thousands, of
people are posting their thoughts and ideas to blogs and forums. People will post
to blogs and forums things that they wouldn’t dream of discussing with their
families or friends. They give their opinions on every subject you can think of.
They help other posters to a blog or forum with their problems or concerns.

Blogs and forums are powerful tools and they have become an important part of
the lives of many people. Deep, personal relationships are formed between people
who post to blogs and forums. Friendships are formed that are as real and
important to individuals as their real world relationships. I even know people
who met on a forum (NOT a dating site). The relationship developed. They
agreed to meet in person….and they finally married. Blogs and forums are places
on the Internet where like minded people gather to discuss a common issue,
concern or problem.

People have always gathered to share opinions and exchange ideas. Blogs and
forums are the electronic form of a town meeting, the exchange of gossip over a
back-yard fence or a coffee klatch.
Posting to blogs and forums can help to build your opt-in list, of course, but
getting to know the other posters to blogs and forums can help you in many other
ways as well. For example: You’ll be very surprised to find that many people who
know less than nothing about Internet marketing can give you some insight into
how to effectively market your product or service and build your all important
opt-in list. Maybe it isn’t all that surprising….these are the same people that you
are hoping to get to opt-in to your list and who better to tell you what would make
them do that?

Using blogs and forums to build your opt-in list isn’t rocket science. You simply
use the link to your website in your signature tag at the bottom of each post you
make. As you get to know the other posters of a blog or forum, they will visit your
site and join your opt-in list because they know you and you will have convinced
them with your posts that you are an expert in whatever subject is being
discussed.

It is a very simple matter to locate the blogs and forums that are related to the
product or service you are selling. All you need do is use your favorite search
engine, type in your keywords and add the word ‘forums’ or ‘blogs’ after the
keywords. Hit search and you will get a lot of hits no matter what your keywords
are. Remember, people talk about everything.

After you visit the blogs and forums that you find on your search, visit the sites
and pick out three or four of the most active ones. Join them and start posting.
Posting to blogs and forums takes time. You will need to post at least two or three
times each week to each blog or forum you join so keep the time factor in mind
when you are choosing how many to join.
Some important factors to keep in mind when you join blogs and forums for the
purpose of list building are:

Don’t go in like gang busters and start posting blatant advertising. You will
get tossed off by the manager forthwith.

Take the time to get to know the members of the group. There are usually
only a few regular posters to each blog or forum. Remember that you build
your list and your credibility one soul at the time.

Be certain that the signature tag th at you use on blogs and forums contain
your full name, as well as your website address.
You can set up a blog or forum on your own website. Actually setting either up is
a fairly simple thing to do.

You can collect the names and email addresses of anyone who wants the
privilege of posting to the blog or forum on your site. Remember, that
people do love to give their opinions and ideas on blogs and forums. Each
time someone registers so that they can post, they will be adding
themselves to your opt-in list.

You could even charge a fee for people to be given the privilege to post as
well as collect their names and email addresses.
A blog or forum on your site affords you the opportunity to interact with
your customers and potential customers. They have opinions but they also
have ideas some of which are good ideas and ones that you can use to build
your list even larger.

Posting to blogs and forums using a signature tag (sig tag) to build your opt-in list
does work. It is a little time consuming but it will be time well spent. While it is
true that most blogs and forums don’t have a great many posters, they do have a
great many readers and everybody knows somebody. Post to blogs owned by
others or create a blog or forum on your own site.

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