What gets you to click on a forum signature?

31 replies
I've been split testing a few different catchy titles and have had success with one, but not the other. So, what really grabs your attention?
#click #forum #signature
  • Profile picture of the author aaron_nimocks
    The only thing that catches my attention now is graphics.

    Seems like I am immune to text now.
    Signature

    My free PSD logs can be downloaded at PSD Bum. Enjoy!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252392].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author cjm18
      I find that usually I click on a sig if the persons post has contributed a lot to the topic and the sig is related to the topic.

      I also tend to look at the sigs of warriors who are constantly providing good content because I figure if they give this stuff away for free what will they have in WSO's or on their own sites.

      But images do catch my eye these days.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252409].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author WikiWarrior
        Originally Posted by cjm18 View Post

        I find that usually I click on a sig if the persons post has contributed a lot to the topic and the sig is related to the topic.

        I also tend to look at the sigs of warriors who are constantly providing good content because I figure if they give this stuff away for free what will they have in WSO's or on their own sites.

        But images do catch my eye these days.
        ^ This. If they're responses are quite in-depth and/or they have gone out of their way to help someone or just point them in the direction, it's a simple attraction that makes me want to click their sig.

        Some people you get used to seeing around the forum from their profile pic and it's a curiosity thing. Like when I see people in almost every thread I go in and think "Wow, this guy/gal is freakin' everywhere! How do they have so much time to digest all the content, let alone post interesting replies?".
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252455].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Charlotte, when it comes to text signature links, I think the same rules/guidelines regarding WSO headlines apply - it has to be catchy, compelling and immediately grab your attention, which is especially important now that these text links have to compete with graphic banners in the signature area!

    Paul
    Signature
    >>> Features Jason Fladlien, John S. Rhodes, Justin Brooke, Sean I. Mitchell, Reed Floren and Brad Gosse! <<<
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252412].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kharlhoffman
    I'm fascinated with good design signatures what maters to me is the discussion he provide, if he really satisfied what I want then he struck my attention eventually.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252513].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Matt Morgan
    What gets you to click on a forum signature?
    A Call of action, such as Click Here
    Signature
    -> [FREE WSO 1] Discover 77 FREE Ways To Generate Traffic!
    -> [FREE WSO 2] Discover 67 Killer Traffic Methods Which Will Crush Your Competition!
    -> [FREE WSO 3] Discover 77 Amazing Blogging Tips To Explode Your Profits!

    ...…..Now LISTEN CAREFULLY! ===> [WSO REPORTS 4, 5, 6 are >> Found Here]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252535].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author djleon1
      Brevity. If there are too many links it just seems spammy to me. Plus your sig shouldn't be 5X longer than your average post. Graphics don't get me in this forum. Trying to read a forum with tons of graphics is like driving the strip in Vegas - too much.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252559].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Gracey
        If a person is giving good advice about a questions asked,and recommending where or how to get the right answer i would check them out.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3253675].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Gary King
      Originally Posted by Matt Morgan View Post

      A Call of action, such as Click Here
      Interesting Matt...

      The "click here" thing makes you click, yet your signature is well laid-out and full, but doesn't use that technique?

      Might be worth a test if it makes you click, right?

      Have a great day!

      Gary
      Signature

      ===========================
      OFFLINERS! Warning: Unless You Know These Pricing Secrets, You are Leaving THOUSANDS on the Table. Get Your Free Report Now.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252893].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Apologies for being vague, but anything that makes me curious will get me to click.

    My best sig was one from last year. It was a Valentine's offer and went something like this:

    "Would you like to grab my big package for Valentine's Day?"

    Believe it or not, some people took it as some sort of double entendre!

    All the best,
    Michael
    Signature

    "Ich bin en fuego!"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252557].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MarcoJardel
      I think it's all about the individual post rather than signature itself.

      If someone responds to a question with a useful answer or provides lots of value then it encourages me to find out a little bit more about the individual and what they offer. I'm usually drawn to their signature to see their site or product.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252581].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    I'll tell you what makes me not click on a link...

    When the poster's link says "Get a Zillion Visitors to Your Site" and the post says "How Do I Get Traffic?"

    Signature

    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252578].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wendymay1
    Catchy text phrases always catches my attention for example here are a few....

    1.And here's some great news for you:

    2.But here's something interesting:

    3.But wait, You have seen NOTHING yet..

    4.But, that's only half the story.

    5.Let me share a secret with you.

    5.Okay, now let's get down to business:

    6.That's just the tip of the iceberg

    A very catchy sig file grabs my attention.

    Another great word that always catches peoples attention is the word "FREE"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252605].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sarah Harvey
    I like graphics as well if I have to be honest. I don't look at signatures most of the time, unless I see something that might be beneficial to me. So if I like anime and manga, the only signatures that will capture my attention is either graphic, or words that will relate to anime or manga.

    So instead of being general.... why not offer something valuable to your target market in your signature. Or if you like to write for example...have a cool signature that shows off your creativity.
    Signature
    "Find the problem and provide the solution."
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252608].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wanna-succeed
    Something genuine and not full of obvious lies.
    Something you can check immediatly without wondering what hides behind the trap.
    Signature

    No sig, good day m8...

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252613].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    As you know, while we are communicating with some people in the forum environment, we will make personal connections with folks through the various posts.

    Once that mental connection is made for me, I immediately look at the signature.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252764].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author alcymart
    I always look at the signature when reading posts and replies, and I can pretty much say if he or she is a newbie or a pro IM'er by the title and description if any.

    Then if it just happens to be something I need or even to an extent can peek my curiosity, I'll click and check it out further. In the last month, I clicked about a dozen of them and did find 2 of them of deep interest.

    Take care,

    Bernard St-Pierre
    Marketing Consultant
    Copywriter/Teacher
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252809].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    The only thing that grabs my attention is the Warrior is active in the forum and I feel I know, like and trust them and they're offering something I'm interested in. I don't care what kind of graphic is used. It can be just text. Relationship to the forum is key.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252839].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
      A fantastic post of value gets me to click on signature links.

      Yesterday I purchased Caliban Darklock's WSO after clicking on his signature link to check out his SEO course, after reading his post here ...

      http://www.warriorforum.com/adsense-...ml#post3247137

      ... his post contradicted some of my post on the same thread (ouch), but that was fine as I'd rather know the truth than be right, which lead me to click on the "Learn SEO" link in his signature.

      I then purchased his WSO for $37.
      Signature
      'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3253090].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Charlotte Jay View Post

    So, what really grabs your attention?
    The post leading up to it.

    Seriously, that's what it is for me. You make a post that I find intelligent, insightful, and meaningful... I'm likely to click on your signature.
    Signature
    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252906].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    If I notice someone is making good posts that I am interested in, then I will glance down at their signature and, if they offer something I might be interested in, then I click.

    I probably would never click a sig of someone I didn't "know" by at least a few forum posts.

    Forum signature is one case where probably the title of the link, at least for me, is the least meaningful factor.

    Lee
    Signature
    Gone Fishing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252925].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dave Rodman
    Banned
    In this forum in particular, I'm extremely "Signature Blind". So in order for me to notice a website, it just has to really be something I need at the time. For instance, I'm always looking at SEO services so I tend to notice those.

    The image can be a useful attention grabber, but most of the images are pretty weak. I would suggest getting a professional attention grabbing image.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252977].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Vitaliy K
    a very funny signature of course. Signatures like "I made $1 Million in 1 Minute..." are not worth to click on...
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3252991].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bazscourfield
    The first thing would have to be a good post or a good reply, the longer I stay on somebody's reply, the more exposure I get to their sig file.

    I find that the headlines do matter, but not as much as what I'm thinking about at the moment for my business.

    if I am currently thinking about Facebook marketing and their signature headline meets my need or if it just piques my imagination I will click on the link.

    the downside to this though, is staying on the warrior forum far too long following signature links.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3253050].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gittar1122
    Catchy graphics signatures
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3253340].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dash Evra
    Can't speak for others but they only reason I click on a signature here is if that person make a helpful, well written, professional post. It tell me that he knows his stuff and not here just to flash his signature around.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3253371].message }}

Trending Topics