Sometimes good search engine marketing uses brain power instead of dollar power and that is where you can separate the hacks from real search engine marketing professionals.  Almost anyone can plop down $x,xxx.xx for an ad on a busy website and get visitors but if you want to get conversions you need to mix $$ with brain cell activity!

Here is a great example of the above:

In about one week this thread received over 1.300 views and already has 4 pages of replies.   I was able to advertise my clients websites in three live signatures and in two other non-live locations.  Even the text of my post did a little ‘low-key’ promotion for my client.

The value proposition here is that I am able to get out to  grassroots customers  in a very subtle, friendly and engaging way.  With the cost being free and only having to devote minimal time to replies and watching the thread the ROI on this type of promotion is essential in providing a well-rounded, successful search engine marketing campaign.

Update January 21, 2010

Let’s fast-forward a couple of weeks and take another look at this method of promotion.  I am also able to compare it to forum posts started the same day in the commercial advertising area of the forum – the number of views is completely lopsided and this just proves that forum promotion is valuable but only if done right!