Hello,
Thanks so much for mentioning my book, Kim.
I really appreciate it, and the kind words mean a lot to me.
Forums are definitely a commitment of time. You can't launch a forum and then leave it, it's a regular thing you have to invest into. They aren't for everyone (depends on various factors), but they can be beneficial to businesses and others looking to generate traffic, create greater loyalty, etc. It really depends on what you want to do and what time you have available to commit. But, suffice to say, yes, it is hard work.
I would caution against using other forums to promote your own, as a general practice. Sure, signature links (if the site allows them) are OK, but mentioning your site in posts, PMs, etc. is generally a no no as it'll tarnish your reputation. As a community administrator, I try to treat people as I'd like to be treated - you probably don't want others coming to your forums and using it in that fashion, so that's a good way to look at how you yourself should act. (Of course, on the flip side, if you let people do it on your site, don't assume it's OK elsewhere).
I hope that this helps.
Thanks,
Patrick