I posted a $50 credit for Google AdWords a few days ago; don't know if it can be used by anyone other than HostGator customers, but maybe there are other similar offers out there.
Two things: 1 - Sometimes, on sites like DigitalPoint, you can find people selling Google AdWords vouchers of $50 value for like $6. I bought one in the past and all went well. I got $50 worth of advertising for only $6. The only catch is that the voucher is only good for a new Google AdWords account sign up. Doesn't bother me though when I'm getting that big of a "discount". 2 - There are more than just forums to advertise on, Rizzo. Parenting blogs (which there are tons of) are places you can add comments to entries and include a link to your forum. And if these are do-follow blogs, you will be getting some nice backlinks as well, which in the long run will increase your SERPs. Also, you can exchange links with parenting companies or services that don't have forums. Maybe a parenting-consultation service, for example... you place a link to their site on your forum, and they do the same back for you. Just some ideas.
Thanks I have tried most of those suggestions. I am kinda at a loss at the moment, because i have no income, i can't pay for anything.
Rizzo and MomCafe Im in the same boat as you two lol. What I have done though, is I have made some friends on other parenting forums, and asked them to come and join and post a few times. It seems to have worked.
I agree the majority of parenting and pregnancy forums are in total lock down when it comes to socialising on their forums mainly due to spamming caused by one of the largest ones a few years back.
I dont do it now, i did it way back before i started my forum and they were all phentine friends, now i'd rather work on my own than rummage through other ones finding members