Forum links

Why Don't the Count as a Backlink?

[Gargen]

Why is it in every search engine other than google links in my signature are recognized as links, personally i like this because i already am very active on several forums and so its an added benifit (it amounts to about 2500 links) this would be great if google did it but why havent they accepted these links?

[arran]

I assume you're using link:example.com. In google, this tool only shows a subset of your total inbound links. Even although your signature links don't show, they may well be helping your ranking slightly. I wouldn't worry about it.

[martinibuster]

A forum sig link is not a vote for your website by that website, so why should it be recognized as a vote if it is not a vote? In terms of ranking better, it's spam. In terms of receiving traffic from forum members, it's a link. Any way you slice and dice it, it's still not a vote for your website.

[Gargen]

Well it does give me some good traffic and it is show to help in <examplified search engine> alot, Im ranked very high in phrases like <generic widgets> and a bunch of others.

[edited by: martinibuster at 2:28 am (utc) on Aug. 28, 2005]
[edit reason] Widgetized for your safety. [/edit]

[martinibuster]

That still doesn't invalidate my point. It's still not a vote for your website. If indeed it's working, don't expect it to last. I'm just answering your question as to why it doesn't work.

So, if it doesn't work in all the search engines, and if Examplified Search Engine may in the future filter out forum sigs, then it's probably in your best interest to to get proactive and figure out how to get some good IBLs into your site.