Question on forum signature links after Penguin Update

33 replies
  • SEO
  • |
I'm still unclear on whether Google views them as spam and penalizes the link juice in a negative juice fashion that actually hurts your site or if they have just devalued the link strength they used to carry.

I've been unsure whether to use text links or the natural URL or whether it makes a difference in the "natural" aspect of back linking Google is looking for post Penguin update. I'm sure the question has been asked before, but after doing a few variations of the search on the question I still haven't found a clear answer yet. Anyone care to chime in? Thanks
#forum #links #penguin #question #signature #update
  • Profile picture of the author fanta81
    I believe signature in the forum post won't be considered as spam unless you bombard the forum with more then 100 posts daily.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6866115].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
    Sites that embedded backlinks into free products displayed across the web (such as blog templates with their back link in the bottom) lost a huge amount of traffic after the Penguin update due to the lack of diversification within their back linking structure appearing artificial under the new update from Google.

    It's not really the element of post per day I'm referring to. I'm referring to the same back link text over and over and the artificial structure it presents to Google. Google sees realistic back linking from web traffic in a diverified manner in the fact that it's dropped in a multitude of ways by single users across the web with different back link text or just the entire url to where it is completely diversified.

    I understand this aspect of the Penguin update. What I am unclear about is whether the sites or individuals were actually penalized in a negative fashion that had a negative impact, or if Google just "corrected" their ranking by lowering or completely removing the juice altogether. One way would actually hurt your site and the other way would only provide less juice or no juice at all (but wouldn't actually hurt it).

    Does that make sense?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6866192].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
    What level of competition are your keywords optimized for? Are they high, medium, or low level traffic keywords. I'm just curious because if they are low level traffic but your pages are more relevant due to a lack of competition then even a penalizing update might not effect the fact that your pages are still more optimized and relevant to the low level competition the other results on the front page.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6866268].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author civilart
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6866512].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
      Originally Posted by civilart View Post

      forum signeture is not a spam....it is a good way to build link
      Well I guess since you said it with nothing to back up your statement then it must be true from all of the solid advice you've given around here.

      I was really hoping to hear from some of the members around here who have actually established rapport and give solid reasoning behind what they say. It's obvious the Penguin update diminished repetitive back links to some extent, I'm just not sure if it's a penalized reduction or a devalued reduction.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6867107].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author amiramin
    Signature are not spam
    Signature
    movies
    SEO is Like Life, You can Plan it but You can't Control it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6868685].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wackiin
    sigs are SPAM I didnt ask to see your spammer links please refer to the other thread
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6868692].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
    So I guess in truth nobody really knows as nobody has given anything to clarify on what I stated in the OP the #3 post. Nothing more on a repy then "Sigs aren't spam" which is more just stating what ppl think and nothing to back it up. I gave solid reasoning on why I asked my quesion in reference to the site with templates etc. that had the exact same backlink, they gave nothing more than "its not spam," which means in all honesty they dont have any idea.

    A sig on a site with authority is no guarntee the poster is a source of authority so to believe that just because you have a sig on this site that Google automatically deems you worthy because of the exact same backlink text on every single one of your post is silly. We also know Google removed juice or penalized exact same back linking structure to sites all around the web with the Penguin update, that is fact.

    Getting referral visits from the site where your sig is has nothing to do with site authority, and since the other poster never replied to the question I asked him 20 minutes later I still don't know. Anybody else have any reasoning or sources to back up yes or no to the question? I see 70% of the posters here with SEO services in their sigs, but I know 69% of them no little more than what most ppl do, Does anyone with good rapport have any idea?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6869235].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
    Well since it's obvious no one knows, even the "SEO executives" flourishing around the forum, I'll just offer up a theory because even though I don't do SEO services I'm probably more qualified than a majority of them from having studied it extensively for years, and seeing many of them don't know sh#$. The template sites and blog comment spammers probably lost complete SEO juice or were actually penalized on the already indexed pages around the web of unrelated sites carrying their duplicate backlink.

    As far as forum sigs I believe they carry little to no weight for 2 reasons. 1) Theres's no way for Google to prove the poster is any source of authority, not a spammer, or both 2) It's not really considered a vote by web traffic such as authentic back links from web traffic. Its a back link that any person has the ability to create for themselves.

    I believe they might give a tiny bit of PR giving the good reg posters of a forum the benefit of the doubt since some post are gonna be quality, but I doubt it has hardly any juice at all. Remember just because high traffic forums are indexxed fast has nothing to do with authority of backlinks dropped from posters. Two completely different elements going on there. This is just a theory since no one has offered anything solid though I see ppl everyday claiming forum sigs are a great source as if they are experts on the subject. Of course I can already see ppl coming on after this has been up for a day and reiterating what I just said to act like they knew, and thats the aggravating part. Where were they before?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6869340].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MatthewWoodward
      Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

      I'll just offer up a theory because even though I don't do SEO services I'm probably more qualified than a majority of them from having studied it extensively for years

      If you have studied it 'extensively' for years you would not be offering your 'theory' on the topic you would be offering cold hard fact.
      Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

      The template sites and blog comment spammers probably lost complete SEO juice or were actually penalized on the already indexed pages around the web of unrelated sites carrying their duplicate backlink.
      I still have sites from 2-3 years ranking with nothing but high PR blog comments.
      Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

      As far as forum sigs I believe they carry little to no weight for 2 reasons. 1) Theres's no way for Google to prove the poster is any source of authority, not a spammer, or both 2) It's not really considered a vote by web traffic such as authentic back links from web traffic. Its a back link that any person has the ability to create for themselves.
      Google classifys pages into topics. If your signature link appears on a page with a relevant topic to your site then its a good link.

      It really isn't any more complicated than that. Whether thats a forum signature or a blog comment. K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid)
      Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

      I believe they might give a tiny bit of PR giving the good reg posters of a forum the benefit of the doubt since some post are gonna be quality, but I doubt it has hardly any juice at all. Remember just because high traffic forums are indexxed fast has nothing to do with authority of backlinks dropped from posters. Two completely different elements going on there. This is just a theory since no one has offered anything solid though I see ppl everyday claiming forum sigs are a great source as if they are experts on the subject. Of course I can already see ppl coming on after this has been up for a day and reiterating what I just said to act like they knew, and thats the aggravating part. Where were they before?
      Again as long as the link is coming from a relevant on topic page it doesnt matter if its a bookmark, forum sig, directory or blog comment.

      While I wouldn't whole heartedly rely on forum signature links to get a ranking it is certainly worth spending your time finding a niche relevant forum, making 10-15 solid helpful posts and then dropping your signature link.

      The other benefit to forum signatures is traffic and they are a great way to get a new site off the ground that has no existing web prescence.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6884229].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mcatt
    I think they are fine however may not carry as much weight as the use too.
    Signature

    Family Time Cleaning
    8723 Huntfield st
    Tampa, Fl, 33635
    (727) 742-5677
    http://familytimecleaning.com/

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6869355].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Samung19
    If forums are related and anchors are mixed, forum posting still works.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6871838].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
      Originally Posted by Samung19 View Post

      If forums are related and anchors are mixed, forum posting still works.
      How can you mix your anchors? Anytime you change your sig then the sig in every post you've ever done changes with it still leaving hundreds or thousand of the exact same anchor text links. Even if the forums are related how is Google going to decipher if the person posting is a spammer trying to get an easy back link or not. Even if they are not a spammer how will they decide if that person is an authority. Thats almost like Google hanging on the words of blog commentors who are regs to that blog. The commenter is not going to get seen as a source of authority, the site will once good content is established.

      Like I said b4 I think it might carry a very small overall dose of juice, but more likely its almost nonexistent if it even exists at all..
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6873871].message }}
      • If you post a reasonable number of comments without spamming the forum, this strategy wont hurt your website. It is important to provide meaningful replies and comment on forums that are related to your niche.
        Signature
        -> Get Profile Backlinks here
        -> #1 Virtual Assistant Service Hire Your Own Virtual Assistant To Work JUST For You
        -> Ezine Articles Service Let Us Build Your Article Portfolio Today!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6875143].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author dragas
        Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

        How can you mix your anchors? Anytime you change your sig then the sig in every post you've ever done changes with it still leaving hundreds or thousand of the exact same anchor text links. Even if the forums are related how is Google going to decipher if the person posting is a spammer trying to get an easy back link or not. Even if they are not a spammer how will they decide if that person is an authority. Thats almost like Google hanging on the words of blog commentors who are regs to that blog. The commenter is not going to get seen as a source of authority, the site will once good content is established.

        Like I said b4 I think it might carry a very small overall dose of juice, but more likely its almost nonexistent if it even exists at all..
        by registering a new username.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6880680].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ImamHariyanto
    It is a very simple way to build backlink for a site. Each forums have their own rules that most of them are hate to spammers, they will banned anyone whom spamming. So, we can conclude that siganture link is not a spam.
    Signature
    More we do, More we get
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6883217].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author aadi144
    Forums are one of the best way to build good quality backlinks to a website and the signatures are not at all spam.They are the way to advertise yourself for free but only after making some contribution to the forum and the users with useful posts.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6883696].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bigbigeye
    As you see, most of us still use signnature in the forum, google won't consider it as SPAM. Please don't worry.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6883742].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author loise890
    It's not spam as long as you're not overusing it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6883804].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tech84
    I think it still depends on how you utilize it, if you spam a forum with random useless posts with the intent of just having your sig be spread across multiple pages then it would be considered spam.

    But if you have a genuine intent of just having a sig just to show your legit WSO or whatever I think it would be OK.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6884582].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author winwanseng
    yes, Signature are not spam
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6953586].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Yohance j
    I was taught to vary your signature on different forums. They may not carry the power you want unless it's in your niche I was told.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6953968].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ArcherWylde
    Google's latest updates put more emphasis on natural "quality" linking. As long as you're not spamming hundreds of forums with auto-spun garbage you are naturally building links.

    Obviously you will want to check whether or not they are do-follow to make sure you are getting the maximum link juice out of the links.

    With all that being said, you should not rely solely on forum links. Diversify your link portfolio by using articles and web 2.0 properties. Hell, throw in some social media signals to the big G too and you'll shoot right up SERPS.

    Moral of the story, focus on QUALITY and not QUANTITY after the latest updates.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6954054].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Aira Bongco
    I think it's okay. After all, some people are forum addicts that they post a lot per day. As long as they are posting real useful information in a well moderated forum, then the link is still valid.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6954502].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jipolis7
    Forum signatures are not spam . You should not make more than 5 posts in a forum where you have set a signature .
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6961601].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author James Andy
    I don't think so that forum signature is showing as a spam but if you post around 20, 30 posts daily in a single forum then it will be showing as a spam and moderator also ban you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6961836].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author davidfrankk
    Multiple backlinks on a single domain lose credibility and the SEO effect disappears as the number increases.
    Sign-up on more forums to increase the number on domains pointing to your site instead of just creating a large number of backlinks on a single forum (domain).
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7127347].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sahildd
    Nop forum post not in the spam, but if u will u more unnatural than if will count in spam
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7127362].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sparkah
    Personally, i never use forum signatures. they are too easy to filter out. They are in a totally different DIV tag than the body of the forum reply. SEE:

    Code:
     <div id="post_message_7127362">
    			
    			Nop forum post not in the spam, but if u will u more unnatural than if will count in spam
    		</div>  <tr> <td class="alt2" valign="bottom" height="100%"style="border-right: 1px solid #000000">  <hr size="1" style="color:#000000" /> <div valign="bottom"> <a href="http://www.timepiecemaker.com" target="_blank">Swiss watch</a>
    VS

    my sig:
    About Me: I consult on nanotech, oled, and 3d printing.
    Signature

    I'm a writer for Forbes and Fast Company.
    Also, I did this: My deepest darkest SEO SECRETS --- https://youtu.be/vl3tswPLJWM

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7564624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author squadron
    Originally Posted by brainfreeze0 View Post

    I'm still unclear on whether Google views them as spam and penalizes the link juice in a negative juice fashion that actually hurts your site or if they have just devalued the link strength they used to carry.
    Short answer: No. Forum signature links can be the most powerful links in your SEO toolkit. Especially if they are from quality forums like Warrior Forum.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7564935].message }}
  • forum sigs have helped me very much to rank my keywords..i dont think it can be considered as spam..
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7565066].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GuybrushT
    Yes, they do work, and if you provide quality to the forum, you'll get some (targeted) visitors as well.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7565111].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Demetrius
    Penguin should terrorize the people who are spamming around the web. Weather it is through blog commenting or forum signature. As long as you are natural at your presence at web, your signature link are not likely to marked as spam.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7566008].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dalegolden
    What the hell penguin have to do with forum signature. It is also a kind of backlink and if you are not spamming with it, no penguin can harm you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7566596].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author amrannkh
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10486814].message }}

Trending Topics