URL in signature of discussion forum post

[superTallDan]

I used to see URL's in the signature part of discussion forum posts covering various topics but it does not seem popular anymore.  It seems like a good way to build links and I am wondering why it is not used.

Suppose I ask a question about proper tooth brushing technique on the forum at "toothbrushingforum.com" and user "ToothBrushWizard" is nice enough to answer my question.  I used to see signatures like this:

Good luck,
ToothBrushWizard
www.ToothBrushWizard.com

Is this considered poor taste or are these links discounted by the search engines?  Is it best to keep an updated profile with your URL and hope that forum users click through to it?

[EGOL]

It seems like a good way to build links and I am wondering why it is not used.

Lots of people enjoy getting that type of link.

However, a lot of those same people will participate in forums for no reason other than dropping those links.

The result is a lot of low-quality posts that really are nothing more than spam.

I hope that signature links are not planned for this forum.

[SteveOllington]

And that's not to mention the automated software that creates profiles and then spams signature links in forums everywhere with generic posts.

I'm with EGOL, no need to add an inventive for that stuff in here.

Having said that, I think it would be cool if Authority ranks, or Guru ranks or something were given the ability to have sig links. It's not like any spammer would stick around that long to get there.

[AlanBleiweiss]

There is also some discussion within the industry that links of that nature have been so seriously abused by spammers that Google now recognizes such link patterns and either devalues them (doesn't give them the link value to pass along) or may even ding the site where all those signature files are.

[AlanBleiweiss]

LOL careful Steve - it took me just a couple months of answering questions here to skyrocket from a couple hundred points to "authority" level.  Of course, I did have to provide a lot of answers that were given "good answer" status.  But if that's all it took to get a sig link here...

Then again - if people really did stick around long enough (even a couple months) and really gave good enough answers to rise that way, I suppose everybody would win. Even if most bailed out after they got their link.

Then again - if they did it for the link, they could then possibly revert to crappy answers, knowing that the sig would be there even with crappy answers.

Yeah - before my head explodes, I'll just stick with the "hope they don't offer it" answer you guys gave.

[superTallDan]

Have no fear, EGOL.  I am not a spammer.  I was planning to offer meaningful contributions and build links at the same time.  (Not here, I dont know much SEO yet.)

thanks to everyone for your replies!

[RyanKent]

I think most of the responses addressed the question as if it concerned signatures on the SEOmoz forums. I believe Daniel was asking about signatures on forums in general.

I can share two observations regarding links in signatures:

• some sites disable the links completely. If that is the case, you will know right away and there is your answer.

• some sites allow the link, but add a "no follow" tag. It depends on the site preference and the software they use. You can always view the page source code and see if the no follow tag has been added, then you will know the answer for that site.

The topic is a double-edged sword. You want quality contributors to receive credit for their work. Then again, by allowing these links you will attract some poor quality responses.