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  • KS__
    KS__ last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 6:39 AM

    Are they really important?

    Many preach they are, and there are tonnes of services out there who give you thousands of forum profile links in no time.

    I strictly believe in genuine links built the hard way, and definitely don't want to get into anything which is black hat.

    Please suggest if building several Forum Profile Links is an appropriate way of building links?

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
    • Gab-Goldenberg
      Gab-Goldenberg @KS__ last edited by Apr 10, 2012, 6:04 AM Apr 10, 2012, 6:04 AM

      You can try Ontolo's link building query generator tool:

      http://ontolo.com/link-building-query-generator-V2

      Citation Labs also has great link building tools for finding prospects:

      http://searchnewscentral.com/20120404276/Tool-Reviews/15-min-showdown-with-the-link-prospector-tool-from-citation-labs.html

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • KS__
        KS__ @KeriMorgret last edited by Apr 10, 2012, 1:11 AM Apr 10, 2012, 1:11 AM

        Thanks Keri. I will do so right now.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • KeriMorgret
          KeriMorgret last edited by Apr 10, 2012, 1:09 AM Apr 10, 2012, 1:09 AM

          Have you read the Link Building category of the SEOmoz blog? Take a look at http://www.seomoz.org/blog/category/4 and you might also get some more ideas for building quality links (both for forums and in general).

          KS__ 1 Reply Last reply Apr 10, 2012, 1:11 AM Reply Quote 0
          • KS__
            KS__ @Steven_Macdonald last edited by Apr 10, 2012, 12:58 AM Apr 10, 2012, 12:58 AM

            I have been actively looking at the option of guest blog. Can you help me with where to start? I need help with finding blogs that allow guest blogs, or how to approach them etc

            Gab-Goldenberg 1 Reply Last reply Apr 10, 2012, 6:04 AM Reply Quote 0
            • mytouchoftech
              mytouchoftech last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 7:14 PM Apr 9, 2012, 7:14 PM

              Building links on highly relevant sites would be a good idea if you're willing to put in the time to make a useful post.  If the forum allows do-follow links, that will help you a little.  As part of a balanced link building strategy, they could be beneficial.

              Any site that sells you thousands of links will be using an automated tool.  This is considered very spammy because the links have no value, they'll be on trashy sites, and on sites that there will be thousands of other links on as well.  The value a service would provide you wouldn't be worth the money.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Steven_Macdonald
                Steven_Macdonald last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 3:01 PM Apr 9, 2012, 3:01 PM

                I would not buy any forum-links but as long you provide relevant content and add to the discussions then you will be fine. If you have the resources and time, then perhaps it might be an idea to guest blog instead?

                KS__ 1 Reply Last reply Apr 10, 2012, 12:58 AM Reply Quote 0
                • Gab-Goldenberg
                  Gab-Goldenberg last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 10:59 AM Apr 9, 2012, 10:59 AM

                  Test them on a dummy site if you have the budget, or on some pages that already link to you.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • Devin_Anderson
                    Devin_Anderson last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 7:30 AM Apr 9, 2012, 7:30 AM

                    You won't get any referral traffic but Forum profile links (the dofollow ones) do pass link juice. Not much, but some.

                    Although I wouldn't trust mass-outsourcing services, in my experience forum profile links can be used as supplementary to content-based strategies without any risk of penalty.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • MassivePrime
                      MassivePrime last edited by Apr 9, 2012, 7:13 AM Apr 9, 2012, 7:13 AM

                      Those services you mention which give out thousands of forum profile links are usually not worth your time or money, you see the same thing with generic directory listings, they are useless. Unless the forum topic is relevant to your website and they are do follow then don't waste your time.

                      I've found that signing up to 3 or 4 popular forums and being really active in them is a lot more beneficial in the long run.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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