If you are not already familiar with the marketing funnel concept, it’s definitely worth getting to know.

Our team took the time to think about how we can turn this traditional sales concept into something our vendors can apply on the forums.

Although many of our vendors are already using the different strategies illustrated in the marketing funnel below, becoming familiar with the entire process can increase your chances of generating repeat business.

Your goal as a forum marketer is to generate advocacy using the tools provided by the forums. With that being said, which part of the forum sponsorship marketing funnel are you on?

Leveraging data is a key strategy in any digital campaign.  Recently, IB has been phasing in some new tools and features that will aid our sponsors in leveraging the most data possible with their campaigns.  One of those tools is “Threads / Posts Reports”.

The Threads/Posts Report allows you to monitor your posting habits and response by pulling a report of your posts or threads within a designated time frame.   Viewing the report will show which vendor username posted, the thread title and a link to the thread, the date and time, the forum, the views, and the replies.

What our team has found is that the more frequently a vendor can post the more views and replies they will normally receive on threads.  The tool is useful for keeping track of your campaign and making sure that your social campaign stays on track.

You can access your own report by logging into your vendor account and navigating into your User CP.

From there locate the button for “Threads / Posts Report” by looking towards the bottom of the side toolbar.

Once inside you will be able to select the appropriate time frame, posts or threads, and which username you will be pulling for.  Once you generate the report you can also download it in .csv format to save for your records.

The following sites are listed in alphabetical order.

5Series – https://5series.net/forums/frequently-asked-questions-13/announcement-forum-terms-rules/

6SpeedOnline – https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997-turbo-gt2/225555-6speedonline-com-forum-rules.html

AcuraForums – http://www.acuraforums.com/forum/member-group-special-buys-32/announcement-%2A%2A-must-read-all-honda-acura-members%2A%2A/

AcuraZine – http://acurazine.com/forums/misc.php?do=showrules

AudiForums – http://www.audiforums.com/forum/new-member-welcome-area-4/rules-audiforums-com-5364/

BikerForums – http://bikerforums.org/frequently-asked-questions-5/basic-bikerforums-org-3/

BlazerForum – http://blazerforum.com/forum/forum-notice-32/blazerforum-rules-read-follow-28944/

CadillacForum – http://www.cadillacforum.com/forum/private-sale-trade-classifieds-19/guidelines-please-read-3309/

CamaroForums – http://camaroforums.com/forum/new-members-area-95/announcement-forum-rules/

CamaroZ28 – https://themustangsource.com/forums/f654/new-vendor-policy-461723/

CBRForum – http://cbrforum.com/forum/new-member-area-5/***-cbr-forum-official-rules-***-52156/

CherokeeForum – http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/all-vendors-read-102008/

ChevroletForum – https://chevroletforum.com/forum/forum-notice-7/forum-rules-15966/

CivicForumZ – http://www.civicforumz.com/honda-civics-other-sale-82/classified-rules-148427/

ClassicOldsmobile – http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/faq.php?faq=forum_rules#faq_userconduct

ClubLexus – https://www.clublexus.com/forums/club-lexus-vendor-marketplace/372028-club-lexus-vendor-marketplace-posting-guidelines.html

CobaltSS.net – https://www.cobaltss.net/rules.php

CorvetteForum – https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/vendor-forum/2161910-vendor-rules-guidelines.html

DieselBombers –http://www.dieselbombers.com/faq.php

DodgeForum – https://dodgeforum.com/forum/new-member-area/184908-rules-of-dodgeforum-please-read.html

EvolutionM.net – https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/general/699056-vendor-faqs.html

FitFreak.net – http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-freak-newbie-faqs/12111-fit-freak-forum-rules.html

F150Forum – http://www.f150forum.com/f37/updated-vendor-rules-instructions-15691/

Ford-Trucks – https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/452321-vendor-rules-updated-sept-19-2007-a.html

G35Driver – http://g35driver.com/forums/cars-sale-vendor-331/classified-posting-rules-please-read-before-posting-85.html

GreenHybrid – https://www.greenhybrid.com/forums/f29/greenhybrid-community-rules-12703/

GTRForums – http://www.gtrforums.com/forums/gtr-forums-announcements-45/announcements/

HDForums – https://www.hdforums.com/forum/vendor-for-sale-classifieds/657865-vendor-posting-rules-for-hdf.html

HondaAccordForum – http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/forum/new-member-area-5/**-must-read-all-members-*-*-rules-haf-270/

HondaCivicForum – http://www.hondacivicforum.com/forum/new-member-introductions-4/honda-civic-forum-rules-62475/

HondaForum – http://hondaforum.com/forum/new-member-area-5/rules-hf-2/

I-Club – https://www.i-club.com/forums/general-79/guidelines-posting-technical-forums-211055/

JaguarForums – https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/new-member-area-intro-must-5/new-members-please-please-please-read-must-read-if-you-just-signed-up-22253/

JK-Forum – https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-forum-rules-159/new-jk-forum-member-rules-266702/

LS1Tech – https://ls1tech.com/forums/private-sponsor-forum/557652-limit-2-threads-sales-forum-2-gp-forum.html

Maxima.org – http://maxima.org/forums/general-maxima-discussion/275680-general-maxima-forum-rules-guidelines.html

Mazda3Club – http://www.mazda3club.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_advert

MazdaForum – http://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/site-updates-announcements-40/forum-rules-2848/

MBWorld.org – http://mbworld.org/forums/vendor-staff-discussion-forum/450892-sponsor-faqs.html

MiataTurbo – http://www.miataturbo.net/front-desk-17/site-rules-67441/

Mod Motor Tech – http://www.modmotortech.com/forums/sale-20035/sale-forum-rules-119/

MonteCarloForum – http://montecarloforum.com/forum/new-member-area-4/welcome-forum-rules-10023/

MoparForums – http://moparforums.com/forums/f79/vendor-classifieds-rules-11515/

MustangBoards – http://mustangboards.com/forum-feedback-suggestions/16428-sale-forum-rules-serious-thread.html

MustangForums – https://mustangforums.com/forum/new-member-area/66723-the-rules.html

My350Z – https://my350z.com/forum/body-exterior/vendor-rules-256.html

MyG37 – http://www.myg37.com/forums/supporting-vendors/our-guidelines-5.html

NorthAmericanMotoring – http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/1st-gear/300134-site-guidelines-for-north-american-motoring.html

PassionFord – http://passionford.com/index.php?pageid=rules

PerformanceTrucks – http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums/guidelines-announcements-177/site-guidelines-372533/

PontiacTalk – http://www.pontiactalk.com/forum/new-members-area-5/rules-pontiactalk-1/

Rennlist – https://rennlist.com/forums/rennlist-posting-guidelines/472518-guidelines-for-rennlist-posts.html

RX7Club – http://www.rx7club.com/announcement.php?f=255&a=185

RX8Club – http://www.rx8club.com/faq.php?faq=vendor_conduct#faq_bus_advertising

S2Ki – https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/648998-the-rules/

S-Chassis – http://www.s-chassis.com/forums/s-chassis-annoucements-37/announcements/

Scion-Life – https://www.scionlife.com/forums/exclusive-sponsored-sales-1612/sponsored-sales-rules-revised-9-12-2012-a-3/

Scoobynet.com – http://www.scoobynet.com/news-and-announcements-408/730476-scoobynet-clarified-terms-of-service-effective-as-of-8th-july-2011-a.html

StuntLife – http://www.stuntlife.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_stuntlife_rules

SuperHawkForum – http://www.superhawkforum.com/forums/superhawkforum-com-news-36/forum-rule-27121/

TeamSpeed – http://teamspeed.com/forums/automotive-parts-accessories/85106-vendor-rules.html

TheMustangSource – https://themustangsource.com/forums/f654/new-vendor-policy-461723/

ThirdGen – https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/announcement.php?f=54&a=60

TruckForums – http://www.truckforums.com/forum/new-member-area-4/announcement-forum-rules/

VADriven – http://www.vadriven.com/forums/sponsor-marketplace-42/new-vendor-forum-guidelines-126615/

VolvoForums – http://volvoforums.com/forum/sale-trade-6/sale-forum-rules-7717/

YotaTech – http://www.yotatech.com/f195/forum-rules-guidelines-200183/

ZDriver – http://www.zdriver.com/forums/guidelines-policy-procedures-3/first-crack-guidelines-3776/

**Sites not listed above may not have a dedicated thread for rules. Please contact the account management team at accountmanagement@internetbrands.com if you have any questions.

Getting Started: Forum Features and Benefits

There are many benefits to using forums, but it all begins with you! In today’s competitive digital world, forums have become a popular way to truly connect with customers online. Customers go on forums to learn more about products, services, and useful tips, making them a vital platform for market research.

Forums help customers at the very first stage of their buying cycle, so it is your job to assist their needs and answer any questions they may have. In addition, forums are a great way to create meaningful business relationships and may entice new visitors to become buyers. This is why it is very important that you get off to a good start – check out these tips below to get you started.

Best Practices: The Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some basic Do’s and Don’ts to make sure you get the best return out of our forums.

Site Rules

Additional Help