Is a profile back link worth as much as a signature back link?

[Keep Trying]

I noticed that on forums, they allow a place for you to put a link to your website in the profile section, and then, if you post a certain amount of times, you are then allowed to post a signature link.

1. Does the first type of website link in the forum profile provide link juice?
2. Which one is more valuable -- profile back link or signature back link?

[Isaiah Jackson]

That is a really good question, I think you would do better with a link in your sig than in a profile though.

Originally Posted by Keep Trying

I noticed that on forums, they allow a place for you to put a link to your website in the profile section, and then, if you post a certain amount of times, you are then allowed to post a signature link.

1. Does the first type of website link in the forum profile provide link juice?
2. Which one is more valuable -- profile back link or signature back link?

[RevSEO]

No, I'd say overall it wont be as worthwhile as a signature link and here's why.

The biggest problem for getting profiles indexed is that they have very little content and generally aren't linked from pages with pagerank on the domain. That's why people have to use indexing services to index those profile pages.

Where as a signature link, as long as the forum is public, will be picked up and generally gain pagerank on those pages. They are also within a TON of content, which means the pages get indexed easily. Hands down the sig links are the most beneficial.

[Keep Trying]

Originally Posted by RevSEO

No, I'd say overall it wont be as worthwhile as a signature link and here's why.

The biggest problem for getting profiles indexed is that they have very little content and generally aren't linked from pages with pagerank on the domain. That's why people have to use indexing services to index those profile pages.

Where as a signature link, as long as the forum is public, will be picked up and generally gain pagerank on those pages. They are also within a TON of content, which means the pages get indexed easily. Hands down the sig links are the most beneficial.

So if you could index your profile link by pinging it, would it then be the same value as a signature link then?

[patriciaevansss]

For me, I'd go for Forum Signature Links coz' it gives much number than the Link in your Profile. Whenever you're posting, there's always a signature but in Profile Linking, there's nothing!

[dbadwal]

Signature links have more chance to get indexed.

[Hotness]

Signature links for sure.

1. Forums posts and threads get indexed.
2. Forum posts get you views, which means "impressions" to your links.

How good is that? Very.

[nicktyler]

Not to mention that there is the chance to get traffic as well!!

[kimseo]

i prefer to have signature links rather than profile links because they get easily indexed by search engines

[JamesGw]

Forum signature links are one of the best types of bulk links. Forum profiles are one of the worst types. Definitely go for signature links.

[marwaforem]

Post a link in the signature is an important factor in SEO

[RevSEO]

Originally Posted by Keep Trying

So if you could index your profile link by pinging it, would it then be the same value as a signature link then?

In about 99% of the cases, no.

The problem with profile pages, is that they will NEVER get PageRank. Well unless of course there's links to the profile pages.

The thing about forums, that are public facing so that Google can see/index the threads is that theres a good chance your link will end up on a thread that gets links alot. That means PageRank to your website. Where as the profile page will never get that same PR.

[Keep Trying]

Originally Posted by RevSEO

In about 99% of the cases, no.

The problem with profile pages, is that they will NEVER get PageRank. Well unless of course there's links to the profile pages.

The thing about forums, that are public facing so that Google can see/index the threads is that theres a good chance your link will end up on a thread that gets links alot. That means PageRank to your website. Where as the profile page will never get that same PR.

Thank you.

[Cosmit]

In SEO, links that are easily obtainable are generally almost worthless. Those that don't provide any value and don't have any pages linking to them. Profile links fall under that category.

[effectivesite]

Originally Posted by Cosmit

Those that don't provide any value and don't have any pages linking to them. Profile links fall under that category.

If you're posting a lot to the forum then you do get backlinks to your profile page though from your name on the posts. A lot of them will be nofollow but some aren't.

For your profiles it's not worth focusing on them since signatures will be more effective, but in order to get the signatures you need to set them up anyways so you may as well try to get some benefit out of it.

I'd add as much bio information (and different info from other profiles you set up) as possible so that it doesn't look liked duplicated content and seems to be worth indexing.

[seoviviti]

profile link never considered as quality backlinks so it is not going to help you more. The anchor link from good quality website may help you to increase your rank.

[MegaC]

Signature backlinks can be weighted differently, depending where you post. The trick is to participate in threads with lots of activity (replies and views). The search engines will index these pages much faster than those that are not as active.