Many forums offer free membership and a reasonable set of guidelines about what you are allowed to discuss. Start by replying to questions that other member’s have posted. Then get creative and pose questions of your own to poll the audience. Don’t forget to customize your forum signature (which should include a link to your website) – it will appear at the bottom of every post you make.

What This Does: You present yourself as an industry expert, spreading word about yourself and your business. You also build up links to your own web site, which helps direct visitor traffic and search engine results.

Taking It to the Next Level: If you want to take on a challenge, consider starting your own forum. Have your web developer install and customize the forum software into your web site design, and harvest a community of your prized customer base right there. It’s a great way to “sponsor” something or you might even offer it as a benefit to a paid membership.

Here are a few ideas to help you generate fresh content, for those times when you just aren’t sure where to start (and the blank paper or computer screen in front of you is becoming more and more daunting  to stare at):

• Relate to holidays -– You will be hard pressed to find any month in the year that doesn’t have some sort of holiday you can play off of. Use it to generate clever ideas and special offerings. Valentine’s Day is coming up. Don’t forget about President’s Day on the 16th. Use catchy phrases and spin your content around the upcoming holiday. Quick idea: Show your pride for the red, white and blue.
• Keep up with industry trends — Find out what is going on in your niche market, and use that as a conversation starter. Maybe you are a retail store and sales are down. Try and put a positive spin on things by showcasing what makes your store unique and if it’s possible, offer a special promotion for customers who visit you this month. Hopefully this can help you drive sales.
• Find the positives — We hear all-day-every-day about how bad the economy is…blah blah blah. Talk about something different! Share the positive! Customers and colleagues will appreciate your fresh approach. Plus if you are the only positive, imagine how bright you are going shine sitting there next to all the doom and gloom.
• Share your important news — People want to know what’s going on with you and your business. Although everything might not be perfect, share the important stuff that is going on with your company/business. Have you started offering a new product or service? Get word out. Send press releases to local media outlets, your Chamber of Commerce, and generate buzz. Press releases are a cheap, quick way to help hype up your company buzz. Plus you generate the content, so you are the person in control!

It’s important to keep in touch with customers and let them know where you stand. Customers want to know you are still out there and still a resource for them. Keep the information flowing!

Content is king, so keep at it, kids! Use these helpful tips as a starting point and let your creativity take off from there.