Someone told me that the DP sig links only stay on Google for like 2 months and then go into archiving anyway. Is this true? So now I can simply delete the links in my sig and replace them with new ones (as the links that I have now are there for 3+ months)?
I didn't aware of this. Who told you that? However it is likely to be so. Let's see what someone else has on this.
The only benefit from sig links I've seen, is the few visitors it brings in from the forum... But, then again, I'm no SEO expert...
Any current threads should still be counted as current backlinks. This applies to sticky threads, older bumped threads, threads that get linked to from outside sources, your profile, and from the odd times that google just happens across them. Though, all the links that google finds, it does seem to keep. If that were not the case, then directory links would get set back, as would any other type of links. The anchor text on a sig link can boost a site in SERP, which can bring in traffic. The sig itself on DP can effect product recognition, as well as pull in a few visitors (a sig link for $25 is often cheaper then the cost of impressions from other networks). If you are buying or selling sig links, the member that will have the link should be looked at. Their iTrader, Rep, and posting styles can all effect the effectiveness of a signature and how people will perceive the link. A one liner post will lack a lot of related content to the signature, as when goolge looks at the post itself (as compared to the thread) it will see "PM me please" and four links at the bottom... not much worth there. On the other hand, someone giving some actual information/content not only pushes the thread itself in SERP, but also increases the amount of exposure of the signatures. The more often you change the sigs, the more often google will have to juggle the importance of that signatures worth. If google looks at this thread and sees my sigs in it now, it'll go "oh, worthy site" if it comes back in a few months and sees something else, the old site's worth is gone to be replaced by the new one. or at least, that's how I understand things to be working, but I'm no Google employee so take this post for what's it's worth... just some guy rambling
hm,, 2 months i don;t think so. I've recently changed one of my sign links to a software application i was about to release and google indexed it pretty fast.
they will all get listed as backlinks in Google Webmaster, I'm just not sure of the weight it brings since they're all coming from the same source.
Signature links are definitely worthy to get especially the one from important forums like dp. The posts in dp are sooner indexed by the google when compared to other forums. That shows the worthiness of dp and its sig links. It not only helps to drive the much needed traffic to your site but also increases the number of links dramatically and improves your sites PR (all links are do follow). There is a craze among people with more number posts to sell signature links (especially those with 2k or more). That itself will highlight the importance of the signature link. Contribute to the forum in a meaningful manner and your post (along with sig links) will grow. No scrap or useless me too like replies.
I am new but I think any good link is beneficial for either SEO or general traffic. Old Stock Certificates from your favorite companies!
Not sure how often Google archives them, but they do bring in quite a bit of traffic and a huge number of backlinks, so I'd say they are worthy of getting.
I have found that sig links are great for DP click-throughs as well as organic rankings improvement. No amount of links from one domain will all be counted but some will be, so keep posting good posts! Continuous posting also keeps your site spidered when your links get spidered.