Forums are the original social media, however their viability has been questioned in the recent age of newly emerging and evolving social sharing platforms. The popularity and visibility of facebook and twitter, and new editions to the social scene like ello, have made it seem like forums are headed for a slow virtual death. However, It turns out we couldn’t be farther from the truth. Forums drive consumption, bringing millions of dollars to multiple verticals, especially the auto industry.
The uniqueness of forums live in their ability to connect people who are passionate, often very knowledgeable and want to talk about the specific topic you want to discuss. Unlike your facebook friends who can like your post and your followers who RT your questions, forums allow in-depth discussion , not hindered to 140 characters, to flow and be embellished in detailed threads. It is in these details you can find the information you wanted. Best, it is advice given by the most trusted and honest source possible - that of your peers giving you real life advice.
"Forums are social media without the A.D.D." - Vlad Dusil, Founder, PurseBlog & PurseForum
Forums not only remain important and active in people’s social sharing, but their hidden influence is actually helping to power the auto industry.
A report from Brandwatch focusing on the automotive sector found that forums are the most popular online platform for auto conversations accounting for a huge 38% of the 7.5 Million mentions in their research. The report also highlighted how forums are responsible for 58% of the conversations concerned with purchasing.
This aligns with recent data released from Vertical Scope and ComScore that found the general public look auto forums for guiding influence when purchasing a vehicle (79%), only second to friends and family (80%).
Andy Jacobson, VP of Sales, Vertical Scope commented: “Forums are the social media platform of choice for shoppers who need to research complex products like a vehicle which makes them the social platform for actual commerce.”
Anthony Marino, Founder of Audizine , a largest forum for Audi enthusiasts added: "Online forums allows for engagement like no other medium can, most other forms of online communication are fairly one-sided or one-to-one, such as company websites and even sites like Twitter and Facebook. Forums give you an engaged and highly targeted audience you just can't find elsewhere. In the case of Audizine, we're all massively passionate about our cars; taking care of them, keeping them looking good and running well, and overall just enjoying the hell out of them. If you're in an industry that at all caters to those kinds of people, then it's simply the best place to be."
The age of forums is certainly not over yet and the auto industry benefits greatly by optimizing their influence.
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