links in forums

[scgcarguy]

I get a fair number of links in discussion forums. They are usually just url links (not organic with keywords). Does Google look at these links?

Has anyone had any success with adding to their pages "add a link" scripts that can be copied and pasted on forums, other websites, etc?

Thanks

[martinibuster]

If a discussion is popular enough it may amass enough inbound links to make it important. Regardless, a link is a vote and all votes count, though some more than others.

[KaloVast]

I've found links in discussion forums to be very important. When you have exhausted all the info authority sites in your niche and are only left with competitors to link to, then forums start looking very good. There are so many forums for virtually every topic out there, but the trick is to not get yourself banned.

You can usually keep away from the banning by contributing in a positive way to the site, by not pushing your brand or website, and by providing those links only when it is relevant.

Also keep in mind that search engines aren't the end-all-be-all. If users of these forums find your contributions to be helpful, they'll likely follow your links.

[piatkow]

What can get you down is when the forum post ranks above your own site.

A friend of mine runs a niche music listings magazine and her webmaster is seriously ill (site is on his own ISP account, not accessible). I put up a temporary page for her on my site and put a post on the main forum for that music niche.

Plenty of hits direct from the forum, and somebody was good enough to bump the post as we had a second flush a week later. Within a few days we were getting some good long tail results but nothing on the main keywords.

I had a link to my blog on a signature for a.n.other forum where I post regularly. First few posts seemed to push my rankings up but then they tailed off again. I think the moral is moderation in everything.

[Juliana1]

I have found that any link in is a good link in.

The main value tends to be direct clicks to the sites though. I can't see they make much direct difference to my rankings.

But if they are sending targeted traffic my way and helping with the popularity of the page, the cumulative effect must be worth it in the end.

Just don't knock yourself out over forum links. Take them when they come along but concentrate on the bigger fish.

[martinibuster]

And please don't spam forums. If you have to post something with your signature link in it, post something useful. Otherwise you're likely to get banned or worse, spark negative discussions about your business WITHOUT your link.

[kevinfg]

links are usually good for Google unless the forum have a no-follow tag for all outgoing links. Still, i always recommend contribute good content to the forum, rather than replying for the sake for having a link in your signature.