Comments on: Should you employ paid forum posters? http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/ Community Building Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:04:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-17165 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:05:29 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-17165 <strong>Isabelle</strong> - Yes, paid forum posters can add value to an online community. Wouldn't you be more comfortable creating the content yourself, though? That way you can ensure quality and consistency and also create posts that help your community develop a personality and encourage interaction. Isabelle – Yes, paid forum posters can add value to an online community. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable creating the content yourself, though? That way you can ensure quality and consistency and also create posts that help your community develop a personality and encourage interaction.

]]> By: Isabelle Newton http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-17164 Isabelle Newton Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:05:49 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-17164 I think that paid forum posting is ok as long as it's on topic and used to keep the interest of the 'real' forum users. There's nothing wrong with paying someone to answer, comment, have a conversation with a forum member to make sure that they don't lose interest while your community grows because no one's posting. And it's a good way for forum members to generate an income from their commitment to the site. Win Win really. I think that paid forum posting is ok as long as it’s on topic and used to keep the interest of the ‘real’ forum users. There’s nothing wrong with paying someone to answer, comment, have a conversation with a forum member to make sure that they don’t lose interest while your community grows because no one’s posting. And it’s a good way for forum members to generate an income from their commitment to the site. Win Win really.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16857 Martin Reed - Blog Author Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:30:16 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16857 <strong>Mandy</strong> - Thanks for your comment. I agree with you; I think it is better to focus on building the community yourself rather than employing paid posters to do so. After all, these posters are only in it for the money - their posts won't reflect any passion, and they probably will be devoid of personality, too. What is more, those paid posters might even write posts that you don't want to see on your forum. The early days of a forum are its most critical. Its personality is formed, an atmosphere is created and members are looking for reasons why they should be loyal. Mess this up with bad forum posts now, and you are in trouble. I agree with your opinion of adding valuable content - that is why I too, advocate <a href="http://www.communityspark.com/attract-forum-traffic-through-article-writing/">writing articles for your online community</a>. Thanks for the links to Elance and Interact Media - the <a href="http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/">SitePoint Marketplace</a> is also a good place to find writers. Mandy – Thanks for your comment. I agree with you; I think it is better to focus on building the community yourself rather than employing paid posters to do so. After all, these posters are only in it for the money – their posts won’t reflect any passion, and they probably will be devoid of personality, too. What is more, those paid posters might even write posts that you don’t want to see on your forum.

The early days of a forum are its most critical. Its personality is formed, an atmosphere is created and members are looking for reasons why they should be loyal. Mess this up with bad forum posts now, and you are in trouble.

I agree with your opinion of adding valuable content – that is why I too, advocate writing articles for your online community. Thanks for the links to Elance and Interact Media – the SitePoint Marketplace is also a good place to find writers.

]]> By: Mandy Jones http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16751 Mandy Jones Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:40:39 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16751 I would stay away from paying for forum posts and focus on marketing the forum. One way to do this would be to set up a blog that shares the same content as the forum. You could then write value added content on the blog and mention the forum from time to time on the blog. It would even be ok to have a link to the forum directly on the main blog page. As the blog posts become popular within Google, that traffic should filter down to your forum. The power of a blog is, in my opinion, very underated. Look at it this way, all you have to do is to get one of your blog posts on Digg.com or delicious.com and that traffic alone could really help out your forum. If you do not have time to write articles for the blog you could always pay someone to write the content for you. <a href="http://www.elance.com">Elance</a> and <a href="http://www.interactmedia.com">InteractMedia</a> are both good alternative in those regards I would stay away from paying for forum posts and focus on marketing the forum. One way to do this would be to set up a blog that shares the same content as the forum. You could then write value added content on the blog and mention the forum from time to time on the blog. It would even be ok to have a link to the forum directly on the main blog page.

As the blog posts become popular within Google, that traffic should filter down to your forum. The power of a blog is, in my opinion, very underated. Look at it this way, all you have to do is to get one of your blog posts on Digg.com or delicious.com and that traffic alone could really help out your forum.

If you do not have time to write articles for the blog you could always pay someone to write the content for you. Elance and InteractMedia are both good alternative in those regards

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16690 Martin Reed - Blog Author Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:34:14 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16690 <strong>MOin</strong> - That's interesting; did you continue to post after you received your domain name? MOin – That’s interesting; did you continue to post after you received your domain name?

]]> By: MOin http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16438 MOin Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:31:20 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-16438 i really was paid by some forum but they did't paid me in form of money they bought me a domain from yahoo small business. and i think this is good way of kick starting a community their posting will cost you a little money but will pay you good in long runm. i really was paid by some forum but they did’t paid me in form of money they bought me a domain from yahoo small business. and i think this is good way of kick starting a community their posting will cost you a little money but will pay you good in long runm.

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14278 Martin Reed - Blog Author Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:47:52 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14278 <strong>Mike</strong> - Sure, if you get a quality paid poster who adds real value to your community through their content then there are a number of advantages. Unfortunately, the majority of paid posting services I see simply aren't worth it - the content is poor and mostly off-topic resulting in no added value to the community. Mike – Sure, if you get a quality paid poster who adds real value to your community through their content then there are a number of advantages. Unfortunately, the majority of paid posting services I see simply aren’t worth it – the content is poor and mostly off-topic resulting in no added value to the community.

]]> By: DomainingSource.com http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14269 DomainingSource.com Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:07:34 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14269 Well, in my opinion I feel that it can really solidify a community or better said a "sense of community" which makes a forum have that homey feeling. I would be glad to utilize this type of service for one main reason...Search Engine Food. I think that if you have a quality paid poster working your boards initially and your website is loaded with SEO techniques that this method could dramatically boost your site. Just my opinion. Mike Well, in my opinion I feel that it can really solidify a community or better said a “sense of community” which makes a forum have that homey feeling. I would be glad to utilize this type of service for one main reason…Search Engine Food. I think that if you have a quality paid poster working your boards initially and your website is loaded with SEO techniques that this method could dramatically boost your site. Just my opinion.

Mike

]]> By: Martin Reed - Blog Author http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14004 Martin Reed - Blog Author Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:19:18 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-14004 <strong>Nicole</strong> - Thanks for your comment, it's always good to hear from people involved in the areas of community development that I write about. You are right when you say paid forum posting isn't an overnight solution - it should only ever be a complement to the content that existing members and the forum developer are creating. Forum posters that are genuinely interested in the subject matter will always be more valuable than those posting just for the money. Nicole – Thanks for your comment, it’s always good to hear from people involved in the areas of community development that I write about.

You are right when you say paid forum posting isn’t an overnight solution – it should only ever be a complement to the content that existing members and the forum developer are creating.

Forum posters that are genuinely interested in the subject matter will always be more valuable than those posting just for the money.

]]> By: Nicole http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-13988 Nicole Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:17:14 +0000 http://www.communityspark.com/paid-forum-posters/#comment-13988 I've worked as a paid forum poster for almost three years now, and I've also started my own service. There are a lot of services that just do not provide quality posts, so always be sure to look at samples or ask for a trial if one is offered. Another thing to keep in mind is that paid forum posting is not the overnight solution to getting traffic, merely a way to get content on your site so that people will actually decide to stay. Had potential members come to your site to see no content, they most likely will not stay very long. There are a lot of people who will become paid posters to earn a few bucks, but the majority of them don't stay in it too long, once they realize that the pay isn't that great. I do it because I genuinely am interested in discussion. I love talking to people online, so it's perfect for me. Great post, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ve worked as a paid forum poster for almost three years now, and I’ve also started my own service. There are a lot of services that just do not provide quality posts, so always be sure to look at samples or ask for a trial if one is offered.

Another thing to keep in mind is that paid forum posting is not the overnight solution to getting traffic, merely a way to get content on your site so that people will actually decide to stay. Had potential members come to your site to see no content, they most likely will not stay very long.

There are a lot of people who will become paid posters to earn a few bucks, but the majority of them don’t stay in it too long, once they realize that the pay isn’t that great. I do it because I genuinely am interested in discussion. I love talking to people online, so it’s perfect for me.

Great post, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

]]>