Are forum links valuable?

Attention ALL SEO gurus, companies and seo wannabe's.

I see that you sell a service that gets forum links for clients.

How would you go about getting a few hundred forum links for a gambling webmaster?

Would you just change your sig and suddenly the client is getting links in YOUR sig?

Or would you have an employee sign up an account here, the GIA, CAP, AGD as well as other gambling forums and create posts for the specific purposes of generating backlinks for the client and not for the purpose of becoming a REAL and active member of the communities?

Sure a link or two from here gives a site a little boost, but an Active Membership here is much more valuable, so much so that we take great care in making sure the above doesn't happen. (and if/when someone does get away with it, we take steps against those that would use the forum in such a manner)

Forum links are good and can hold some value, but the real benefit from a forum is when those involved in that industry interact with other forum members thus increasing credibility, reputation and authority on the specified niche.

All affiliates should carefully consider what kinds of services they are considering purchasing from any seo consultant, and be sure to seriously consider the long term benefits and reactions to any actions an seo firm may take.

Forum links can be extremly volatile to your business for a number of reasons. If an seo hired to do forum links falls out of favor at a handful of forums within a niche, your site could also suddenly fall out of favor among your peers, thus harming YOUR reputation.

This would make getting link exchanges, advertising, link purchases or sales more difficult, and could make it more difficult for you to repair the reputation.

Any time you consider an seo package, be sure to ask plenty of questions of how the links will be created and be sure to investigate the terms and general feeling of the forum memberships where the links will be gotten.

Rick
Universal4