When it comes to online marketing, forum marketing has been one of the most definitive ways to succeed online. Anyone that tries it out likes it, simply because it works so well for many. The people that actually succeed with this method are willing to spend the time to make it work, plus it's not that hard to do. There are other aspects that draw IM marketers to it, but there's no guarantee of success. The general guidelines you need to follow are easy to learn, but there is still a bottom line with forums and their members. You can't just post anything! It has to be useful information that they all can use.
Remember that your goal is to be viewed as an expert in your niche. It's important to build a good reputation in the forum. Lacking either one will render your results to less than desired. The first challenge, however, is being seen. But, you don't want to spend every waking moment on any one forum. This is only a small part of your overall marketing strategy.
But coming in and taking over with a large number of posts in a short amount of time will be counter-productive. Take a little time to see what time of day sees the greatest amount of traffic and limit your posting to those times. You can make half a dozen or so thoughtful posts answering questions or contributing something valuable.
Don't just comment on existing threads. Start your own threads as well. Starting your own threads may be a little difficult at first due to shyness. Consider how great it is to share helpful information. Consider the information you have that could benefit the forum. Share. It's that simple. Invite others to contribute and/or ask questions.
Make a controversial statement if you're serious about inviting comments. Just be wary of crossing lines or coming across as uninformed and/or judgmental. Just make sure, above all else, that you start threads that fit with the theme of the forum.
Some people in my explanation forums start threads all the time. Not all forum members appreciate that. But, if you have a lot of good topics for threads, then that's great but just spread them out.
Don't forget to make posts and comment on other threads too. Remember that forums are filled with real people and human nature often rules. Even in this type of situation, you can't always follow along with others just because it's expected of you. Gray areas abound with forum marketing. If it's at all possible you want to find as many unique ways to share your knowledge with other forum members. It is possible that, after reading this, that you may already know most of what we have discussed. As long as you use common sense, and stick to the rules (regardless of the forum you're on), you should do just fine. Remember that contributions matter. The more you contribute, the more the community will accept you, which is beneficial for your marketing efforts.