One of the plusses to being in a forum is the ability to gain some SEO value. I've noticed that on dofollow forums like this one, I don't get backinks from most of my posts. One this one forum, I have over 100 posts, and my website only has a total of 12 backinks according to Backlink Watch. Once I post, should I ping? Who?
If you post on forums solely to achieve an SEO benefit then you are using forums for the wrong reason. Many forums allow URLs in signatures so people can visit a member's primary website to get an idea of that member's background. Signatures are not intended for members to gain in the ways you appear to expect. This is why all your (and every member's) posts count as only one link and in my opinion that is exactly how it should be.
Indeed I would expect people to only visit links in signatures if the poster has a positive reputation on a forum.
Links in signatures on forums for SEO purposes are exceptionally weak because anyone can get those links. Any links that are like that are always devalued by Google.
The same can be said of weak directories. If everyone gets listed and there is no vetting/editing of the review queue, and the links/listings are in effect "add all" then those directories are weak and they are discounted. Google's algorithm would know a tonne of spam sources (like the flower/hydraulic tests we use to identify them) and if those sites are listed in directories it would also drop their value.
Please do not PM me your directories for inclusion. Instead announce them in the directory promotion and list suggestions thread. All requests and questions regarding inclusion that are made via PM will be ignored.
Forum Posting for Backlinks
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