When it comes to business, it is a good move to be prepared, even for forum marketing. You can do many of the things that you want to do, but you have to understand exactly what you want done and how it can be achieved via forum marketing. Successful marketers get that way by using this train of thought. First, they learn a lot about the various marketing techniques. Then they take that knowledge and figure out the best ways to leverage it.
Most forum members act according to their personality. Others will range from outgoing to shy. So, just act normally, unless you are very aggressive and obnoxious. If you're more reserved and unsure, then just observe the forum until you become comfortable enough to contribute. This is a common activity called lurking. You might be too afraid to make a first post. Once you settle into it, then simply start replying in threads and always be courteous and offer value.
Understand that forum marketing is, first and foremost, about building relationships. Some marketers prefer to think of this as building a network. This time you should focus on the relationships and not the networks (or hopes for profit). If people feel like they know you; they'll be more confident about doing business with you. Everything you do in the forums needs to be done with this in mind. One of the biggest things that impacts relationship building in forums is familiarity. You have to be there and contribute on the forums regularly if you really want to build a serious presence.
Just present address yourself in a casual manner. When you go to forums for a period of time you will start to bond with others. Some see this people will always come off as arrogant. There are also those who like to constantly gripe about things. Many others will just overlook their comments, which will make them leave eventually. These are the things that really go on in forums. So you have to assess yourself and what you consider to be your priority. If you want to successfully market in forums, then you have to adjust if that is necessary.
So, see forum marketing as another type of marketing like social marketing. And it is a given that forum marketing is like social marketing. They are both deeply rooted in relationship marketing, which you should thoroughly understand.