It's been a long debated idea, since the appearance of social media, more present today, with all the online social communities, existent everywhere : Is there any more need for forums? Can't business owners find and share the info they want through Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, being able to connect with millions of users ? The answer to both questions is yes.

Of course it's easy to use social networks as forums, but the forums actual era is not over yet. As Gyutae Park  states, forums were one of the first forms of social interaction and are here, still, in spite of everything else that's come along.

The main reason for it, is their unchallenged authenticity. On forums people usually discuss, learn and share knowledge. There's no room for fake presentations or non-related posts. The intimacy provided by a closed discussion lets users quietly influence each other.

If you're advertising online, but haven't entered a forum yet, this post will show you the advantages in applying this old, but still new, marketing strategy. Here are 9 steps to market your business to a forum community:

1. Start by clearly setting your online niche market. Then make a list of all the forums that are active in the specific area you are selling to.

2. Reduce the list to a top 3, based on forum reputation, number of members and accessibility. Make sure the sites allow you to create forum signatures with links to your business. Start with any in the top list.

3. Create an account. Invest some time in making your profile look neat and professional.

4. Use the forum's introduction to tell the other members who you are. Don't try to sell anything, but rather present who you are - the person behind the business.

5. Schedule daily contributions, helping others, asking questions, and basically, becoming an active member of the community. Keep the discussions to the subject and don't fool yourself by trying to undercover sell something to the group.

6. Depending on your marketing budget, you can choose to advertise in the forum's add area. If this section does not exist, limit your company's references to the link in your signature. While the knowledge that you share is appreciated, this will sell more than any advert.

7. Becoming a valuable member of the community, you can, at one point, start moderating conversations. Volunteering for a moderator role will build up your reputation and allow you to post even more relevant information that will lead back to your site.

8. Set-up accounts on the other forums on your list, repeating the steps previously explained. Limit yourself to the 3 top forums – or less – as too much presence can take up a lot of your time and credibility.

9. Once you've created an online reputation for yourself and your business, you are ready to create your own forum, directing to your company's site, helping customers and building relations.