Message boards are websites, or sections of websites, where
people go to chat, usually about a single subject. There are
message boards about everything from pop stars to politics.

The way they work is simple, people write messages, or posts,
which appear online. For example, they might post a question
("How do I add a link in HTML?") or an opinion ("The new Tom
Cruise movie is awesome!"). Other people can then reply.

How does this help me?

The obvious way to try to increase traffic to you website might
be to post to a message board promoting your site. Don't do this
- ever. People treat these kind of unsolicited adverts as spam
and get very angry with people who post them. You're likely to
get angry emails, abusive posts on the board or even complaints
to your ISP, asking for your site to be shut down.

So what can I do?

Well, while people don't like their message boards being spammed
they always welcome new members. If there's a subject you're
interested in or knowledgeable about then you can join a few
popular message boards and join in with the discussions. Most
message boards allow their members to have a signature, with a
link to your website.

How does this help me?

Message board seeding, as this technique is known, will
help you in two ways. Firstly, people on the boards will come to