If you run a small to medium-sized business, you’ve probably asked yourself:

“How do I get my brand in front of the right audience, without spending thousands on ads or hiring a big marketing team?”

For niche e-commerce shops and local businesses, this is the challenge. You need visibility, but traditional ad platforms like Google Ads or Facebook can be costly and time-consuming to manage. That’s why more businesses are turning to community-based marketing: connecting with people where they already gather online to share passions, insights, and recommendations.

At Fora, our network of 1,800+ forums is home to millions of highly engaged enthusiasts. Whether they’re anglers on iFish, car lovers on VW Vortex, or homeowners on DIYchatroom, these communities thrive on authentic discussion. And now, we’ve launched a new way to help businesses tap into that energy: Vendor Spotlights.

What Are Fora Vendor Spotlights?

Vendor Spotlights are a series of placements throughout the Fora community experience that highlight trusted businesses where users are most engaged.

• Our Vendors Spotlight (launched September 2025): Appears in the sidebar across community homepages, forums, threads, and marketplace listings.
• Email Spotlight (coming soon): Will showcase vendors inside community round-up emails, extending reach beyond the forum.
• Marketplace Spotlight (coming soon): Will surface vendors inside community shopping and marketplace areas, connecting businesses with members ready to buy.

The First Step: “Our Vendors” Spotlight

The first live placement in the series is the “Our Vendors” Spotlight. It automatically showcases Supporting and Premium vendors, pulling in their business details like logo, website, and forum contributions.

Instead of managing complicated ad campaigns, vendors are featured where members spend the most time:

• On the homepage where first impressions are made
• In threads & forums where conversations happen
• In marketplace where shopping starts

It’s visibility without extra effort.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Community engagement marketing is powerful because it’s rooted in trust. Members come to forums not just to consume content, but to interact with others who share their passions. When your business is featured directly alongside those conversations, it signals that you’re part of the community — not just another advertiser.

For vendors, this means:

• More visibility, less effort. Spotlights use your business listing to automatically feature your brand.
• Direct connections with buyers. Members can click straight into your storefront or vendor listing to shop or follow your contributions.
• Stronger positioning. You’re building relationships in spaces where members already look for advice and recommendations.

And this is just the beginning — with Email and Marketplace Spotlights on the way, your reach will keep growing.

Who Benefits

• Community Members: You’re seeing a curated list of like-minded businesses that are passionate about the subjects you love!
• Active Vendors (Premium/Supporting): You’re already being featured in the Our Vendors Spotlight. Review your business listing to ensure accuracy and make the most of the exposure.
• Free Vendors: You’re not yet included in Vendor Spotlights. Upgrading to Supporting or Premium unlocks this valuable visibility.
• Returning Vendors: If you’ve left before, now’s the perfect time to come back. Vendor Spotlights are designed to give you more value with less effort.

Why Community Marketing Works for SMBs

Unlike broad ad platforms, community marketing is about meeting people where their passion lives.

• On Facebook, your message competes with baby photos and political posts.
• On Google, you’re one of dozens of ads.
• In a Fora community, your business sits directly alongside authentic conversations about the products, services, or hobbies you support.

That context makes all the difference.

Get Started with Fora Vendor Spotlights

The “Our Vendors” Spotlight is live now across all Fora communities, with Email Spotlight and Marketplace Spotlights coming soon. If you’re already a Premium or Supporting vendor, you’re featured today. If not, upgrading or reactivating your account is the fastest way to join.

Explore where your audience already is

Community-driven marketing isn’t about shouting the loudest. It’s about showing up where people trust each other the most — and becoming part of the conversation.