How are you building forum backlinks?

[Shawn Gossman]

Backlinks are links to your forum on other relevant websites. They can help with SEO and search engine ranking.

How are you building your forum backlinks?

How many backlinks (rough estimate) do you feel you have out there?

 

[Cpvr]

I’m building backlinks by submitting my forum to directories, using my forum signature, and promoting it on Reddit and Tumblr.


In addition to my forum’s index, I also build backlinks to other pages, such as specific threads and my games directory, which helps these pages rank well in search engines.


According to Google Search Console, I have over 15,000 backlinks. However, many of these were accumulated over time, as my domain is 20 years old.

I try to build new backlinks as often I can.

It’s a good idea as forum owners that we build backlinks, so we can attract new users that way too. We need more visibility on the search engines as a whole.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

In addition to my forum’s index, I also build backlinks to other pages, such as specific threads and my games directory, which helps these pages rank well in search engines.

That's important, too.

A backlink to just your root domain isn't really that effective in terms of SEO.

If you have a thread full of great content that is still being added to, then you should try to get backlinks from it as well.

Just like you would with blog posts.

 

[Bawse]

Signature links in forums, and social media are the primary ways I build backlinks for my forum. I have links on a few sites related to my niche too.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Signature links in forums, and social media are the primary ways I build backlinks for my forum. I have links on a few sites related to my niche too.

Most signature links don't even count as backlinks.

XenForo has signatures turned off to guests by default.

 

[Cpvr]

Most signature links don't even count as backlinks.

XenForo has signatures turned off to guests by default.

They only count as backlinks if the signatures are enabled for guests.

If they’re disabled, the search engines can’t follow the links as they’re unable to see them.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

They only count as backlinks if the signatures are enabled for guests.

If they’re disabled, the search engines can’t follow the links as they’re unable to see them.

That is correct.

How do you all handle signature links? Do you enable them for guests or remove them from guest view?