Didn't realize this So basically my "signature link" is something that a member might hopefully click on.
I wouldn't be afraid of signature links until it is done on the massive scale. In my opinion, that's the biggest problem now. If your website's link profile is diverse, there's no need to worry. But you need to get links from different sources and make it look different - brand links, commercial links, navigational links etc.
Having forum signatures in general is not a bad thing. If you create hundreds of accounts on random forums, have no posts on them and only use them solely for a link in your signature, then that could possibly be detrimental. Those links used to be very popular and also very effective a couple of years ago but a lot has changed since then. If, however, you're active and posting on forums, like this one, having a link to your site in your signature is fine.
Not sure about forum signatures, btu I make threads on forums about my sites and it definetly helps the SEO. I would believe that the forum sigs are bad though since they are veyr repititive.
I agree that it is about quality. so it is better to be active in one forum with valuable comments (with signature link) rather than spamming "thanks"-words-like that bring a lot of quantity but may get your account banned. Carefully selecting the related niche forum is a great and wise idea to build your natural link,.
Forum links are important. But do not use them to as only link bank. Try to create you presence on forums and create your own audience circle. Content should be unique, informative and attractive.
I don't see any harm in Forum Links as far as you are doing genuinely, so many people are doing it. I don't see anything wrong in it.
No, i think its wrong, but you should use different keywords in signature in different forum. Apart from always remember that if your signature mismatch to the form category and theme, you will be banner and count as a spammer. Thanks!!!
Ryan, I hear you. I have been hearing this on many SEO forum for quite a few years but then how do you explain how some of our competitors are ranking very well with a preponderance of forum signatures. They outrank me.
They might have a lot of forum signatures, but that does not mean it is what helps them rank. Correlation does not imply causation. It's like social media (and Google even recently - again - stated it is not a ranking factor yet); content that is popular there might rank well, but not because of it.
well if you create a profile and then interact in forums I do not see that the links from your signature should be penalized, it would be a matter of looking more
With all the updates that's been going on, forum links are one of those link building strategies that has decreased in value. I'm not saying it's useless, but i do agree with people in here that you should not rely solely on forum links. Spread out your link juice using different link building strategies while focusing on content as well.
Not exactly if you use with it related keyword if links is DoFollow. But in most cases it is No Follow Links.