Does Having Your URL Sig In Too Many Forums Hurt Your Rankings?

None of my sigs are showing up on google as links, If I search by domain they show up, if anything they are not hurting rank.

 

I'm just curious, wouldn't it be the opposite? Wouldn't it help you more than hurt you? I mean, it's not like you're spamming your link because everyone has their link in their sigs.

 

No, I highly doubt that it would affect your rankings.

Keep them in, it can only help you.

 

No, I do know that it will boost your site's ranking.

 

I think it might even help. Forums are typically ranked well.

Q...

 

Hi I am new here and have a question.
(Being New Do I need to start a new thread or can I PigBk this one?)
That was not the Question & no intent to be offensive.
Just 4 MOI so I do this the right way. IYKWIM?

Here it is:
As I read these replies I see a lot of opinions and like noses, everyone has one.
Don't get me wrong, many are based on their own experience and "No Jail Time" would warrant some credibility.

Q.) Is there a place where someone would give the appropriate answer to this question (& others Like It) like someone "In The Know" (i.e. Expert):

Or is it just hit & miss till Armageddon?

TIA, 1 aka DP
as I am about my FATHER's Business!
Making A Difference And Helping Other People Reach Their Goals!

 

I don't think any form of natural linking hurts. I think it is when you do thousands upon thousands in a day that it hurts. Getting even 50-100 extra in a day wouldn't hurt you I don't think.

 

It probably wouldn't hurt, but it may not help much either. I have no proof, but I would think that Google has discounted links from forums.

That's not to say that you couldn't still try though. Still, you may very well get traffic, if your links are on forums that are related to the links in your sig. I have seen traffic from them.

 

I don't think people really care what types of links you have in your sig. if that's what you're asking.

 

What are some of you talking about? Not every link is necessarily a good link (e.g. adult, linkfarm).

 

Adult links to Adult sites would likely be good links, and if you are growing links, a link farm might not be all that bad (LOL) being a farmer, I can tell you that growing anything can be a real chore

Though, I agree that not every link is a good link, though I will stretch matters and say that no link is really ALL bad.

 

In answer to the OP I would say that it is not impossible that sig links could hurt your rankings. Google is cracking down on paid links, forums like this one where sig links are freely brought and sold may well end up on their radar. I would imagine it would be very difficult to produce an algorithm that could tell link whoring from the more organic promotion of ones own site and it is not inconceivable that there could be collateral damage to the rankings of sites featuring in sig links.

 

I've heard hat having lots of unrelated links can hurt you but have seen nothing that proves this. I say - don't worry about it.