I know this question has been asked many times before, and my question is a little more specific. Here is scenario: I own a domain "keyword.com", and created a wordpress hosted blog at "keyword.wordpress.org" with actual real and authentic blogs linking back to "keyword.com". Question: Would a forum signature linking to "keyword.wordpress.org" and anchored text "keyword" would help me in my SERP for "keyword" or would it be considered as a 3 way link to Google for linking to "keyword.wordpress.org" which in turns link to "keyword.com"? In such cases, I might get penalized for it? Additionally: If the above is a 3 way link, then are there any advantages to those signature links linking back to a landing page somewhere on "keyword.com" instead of just the domain?
Sorry buddy, I do not understand why you think it is a 3 way linking ... If you put link to the your blog, generally, it will affect the SERP of the blog ...
Sorry I quickly wrote the article without mentioning that "keyword.com" would obviously link back to the wordpress blog at "keyword.wordpress.org" so basically it ends up being forum signature => wordpress blog => site => wordpress blog and same goes for let's say instead of a wordpress blog, it could be a hub on hubpages or squidoo lens? Or am I just gravely mistaken?
I dont think forums siggy links are worth a lot anymore these days. It is just too easy for anyone to get links that way.
They've ALWAYS never been worth much. A page has zero link juice if no one links to it. Most forum threads have zero links and hence pass zero pr value. The only real benefit of forum thread is the fact that maybe over time people link to this page and hence the page will start to pass link juice over time.
Its always best to blend the forum signatures with normal link building. Dont rely on one method too much. I have not seen any boost in SERP with signatures alone.. But it can drive traffic
May i know, what is your intention to put link on keyword.com to your wordpress blog? I think keyword.com is more valuable than your wordpress blog, doesn't it? So my suggestion is you don't have to linkback to the wordpress or another web2.0 site (hubpages, squidoo, quizilla etc). Why dont you make all the web2.0 link each other then also link to your keyword.com? I think it would be better. Im just little afraid if you put your web2.0 site on your keyword.com Google will recognize it as your intention to manipulate Google pagerank algorithm. In addition, putting link back to your web2.0 sites will distribute your keyword.com PR. That will decrease your keyword.com PR. Just my two cents.