Forum Backlinks: Do They Help Your SEO?

Once considered a staple in the link building arsenal, forum backlinks are now widely considered low-impact at best, and spam backlinks most of the time. 

As the emphasis on trustworthiness and authority grows, the role of forum backlinks in influencing search rankings has become a subject of debate among digital marketers and SEO practitioners. 

In the below article, we’re going to take a nuanced look at forum backlinks, examining their relevance in contemporary SEO practices, their potential contributions to EEAT signals, their non-SEO benefits and how to build them the right way.

By dissecting the strengths and limitations of forum backlinks, we hope to make their place in the broader context of digital marketing strategies clearer and help you decide whether it’s something worth pursuing.

What are Forum Backlinks?

Forum backlinks are links from online forums or discussion boards. These links can be either built or acquired naturally and are usually included in the body of forum posts or in the signature section of a user's profile. 

They are a type of off-page SEO aimed at increasing a website's visibility and authority in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

Some of the more popular places to get forum links include places like: 

• Quora
• Reddit
• Warrior Forum
• Digital Point
• Moz Community,
• WebmasterWorld

Depending on the forum in question, you may or may not be allowed to include links to places like your homepage and relevant page URLs in discussions.

Are Forum Backlinks Dofollow?

One of the most important things to note about forum links is that they are almost always not dofollow. They use a nofollow attribute, which is a way of telling Google that the site (the forum) in question is not passing on any link juice (or link equity) to the target page (i.e., they are not passing on their authority and trust to the linked domain).

We wrote a comprehensive guide to nofollow backlinks here to help you understand them better and which might provide some important context for the following discussion. 

Forum Backlinks SEO Benefits?

Once upon a time, forum backlinks would have been considered a novel and creative way to build backlinks without having to spend a lot of time or money, while enjoying some off-page SEO. 

Nowadays, however, they are pretty much all but useless from an SEO perspective. Here’s what Google’s head of search, Johen Mueller, has to say about forum backlinks (and what are usually referred to as “user-generated links” more broadly. 

The bottom line, at least from Google’s own mouth (however, much you trust Google and what they say about their own best practices and demands) is that forum backlinks are not something that generate any SEO for your business. 

Forum links and EEAT

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Before we move on to the following section, where we will discuss the non-SEO benefits of forum backlinks (because there are some), let’s briefly entertain some conjecture (no studies have been done on this) about the potential SEO power of forum backlinks. 

This would be in the realm of EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trust). Forum links, when acquired organically from reputable forums, could play a subtle yet significant role in bolstering a website's EEAT. 

You could reasonably interpret forum links as endorsements within relevant online communities, which signal to both users and search engines that the linked website holds expertise in its niche. When users encounter a website through forum discussions, particularly on topics aligned with the website's content, it reinforces the perception of the site's expertise within that subject area.

Another reasonable way to interpret the SEO value of forum backlinks could be as contributors to the authoritativeness of a website via the recognition and respect it gets from the online community. Positive engagements, such as mentions or recommendations, validate the website's authority and credibility among users seeking reliable information or solutions. 

Forum links might also factor into EEAT as part of “backlink profile” concept. This is the idea that a website that acquires backlinks and engages in natural link building, over time, should have a wide variety of backlinks pointing to its site–including some forum links. 

Overall, while forum links may not directly impact search engine rankings, their contribution to EEAT signals indirectly could strengthen a website's reputation and ranking.

Non-SEO Benefits of Forum Backlinks

Where you are on much more solid ground with respect to forum backlinks is their non-SEO benefits.

While Google hasn't explicitly stated that forum backlinks are directly factored into their E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) and, consequently, domain authority, equation, there are several ways in which forum links, especially those acquired naturally from relevant forums, can potentially signal trust and authority to Google, indirectly influencing rankings.

Relevance

Backlinks originating from forums closely aligned with your website's niche or topic area can provide Google with strong relevance signals. When your website is linked within discussions on forums that share thematic similarities, it reinforces the idea that your content is pertinent to that specific subject matter. 

This relevance is crucial for Google's understanding of your website's expertise within its niche, as it indicates that your content addresses topics of interest and importance to your target audience. Essentially, forum backlinks act as contextual endorsements, signaling to search engines that your website is a credible and authoritative source within the discussed field.

Engagement

Positive discussions about your website on forums can serve as indicators of user engagement and content quality, indirectly influencing Google's perception of your website's authority. When forum users engage with your content in a favorable manner, it suggests that your website provides valuable information or solutions that resonate with the audience. 

Positive mentions, recommendations, and interactions signify that users find your content engaging and worthy of discussion. This engagement reinforces your website's authority and expertise in the eyes of both users and search engines, potentially leading to higher rankings in relevant search queries.

Community Validation

Natural backlinks acquired from forums represent a form of community validation and endorsement, which can significantly impact Google's perception of your website's authority. 

When users within relevant forums link to your content, it signifies that your website is trusted and respected within that particular community. This validation from peers within the community reinforces the credibility and expertise of your website's content. 

Google may interpret these endorsements as signals of trustworthiness and authority, thus positively influencing your website's ranking potential in search results related to your niche.

Brand Visibility

Participating in forum discussions and generating positive buzz about your brand or website can enhance brand visibility and recognition, which indirectly contributes to trust and authority signals. While not a direct ranking factor, increased brand visibility can positively impact user perceptions and behaviors. 

Recognized brands are often perceived as more trustworthy and authoritative by users and search engines alike. Therefore, forum discussions that elevate your brand's visibility and reputation can indirectly enhance your website's trust signals, potentially leading to improved rankings in relevant search queries over time.

Brand visibility and leads

Forum backlinks can significantly boost brand visibility and lead generation by exposing your website to a targeted audience within relevant forum discussions. These links can drive traffic to your site from engaged users interested in your niche, fostering opportunities for customer acquisition. 

This could include things like email signups and lead magnet downloads, someone reaching out for a free consultation or demo or asking more questions. Overall, leveraging forum backlinks effectively can amplify brand exposure, drive qualified traffic, and ultimately convert leads into loyal customers, fueling the growth of your business.

Quality of Discussion

When your website is referenced or linked to within high-quality discussions on forums, it sends strong signals to Google regarding the value and authority of your content. High-quality forum discussions typically involve in-depth analysis, thoughtful contributions, and references to reputable sources.

When your content is cited or discussed within such contexts, it reinforces the perception that your website offers valuable and authoritative information within its niche. Google may interpret these references within quality discussions as signals of trustworthiness and expertise, thereby positively influencing your website's rankings in relevant search queries.

How to Build Forum Backlinks?

Forum backlinks can very easily become black hat backlinks if you start engaging in practices that violate Google’s developer guidelines. 

Google has this to say about participating in forums: 

Here is how you can go about forum link building in a way that will keep you in good stead with Google. 

Identifying Industry-Relevant Forums

To begin forum link building, it's essential to pinpoint forums relevant to your industry. Start by exploring prominent platforms such as Reddit and Quora, where active discussions abound. 

These platforms attract a large user base, offering significant potential for driving traffic to your website through well-placed links. Additionally, utilize Google to search for forums by pairing industry keywords with terms like "forum" or "community." Something like the following would be pertinent to a company in the SEO space, for instance: 

The first forum to appear is the very popular Moz SEO forum. A bit further down the page you have other viable candidates: 

We, as link builders, however, probably wouldn’t be interested (at least in under most circumstances) in backlinks from a home and garden forum or a personal finance forums. We wouldn’t try building links there and natural links from such places would nothing for our SEO. 

This method can uncover specialized communities tailored to your niche, providing valuable opportunities for engagement and link placement. In cases where niche forums are scarce, consider broadening your search or exploring related niches to expand your reach and identify relevant discussion spaces.

Evaluating Community Activity Levels

When engaging in forum link building, it's crucial to prioritize active communities over inactive ones. Inactive forums may offer opportunities for link placement, but without engagement from users, the visibility and impact of these links are limited. Look for signs of community activity, such as recent posts, views, and comments, to gauge the vibrancy of a forum. 

Some platforms even display the number of active users, providing valuable insights into community engagement levels. By focusing on forums with active participation, you ensure that your contributions receive attention and interaction, maximizing the effectiveness of your link building efforts and enhancing your website's visibility within the community.

Adhering to Community Guidelines

Before integrating links into forum discussions, familiarize yourself with the community's rules and guidelines to avoid potential pitfalls. Simply inserting links without regard for community standards may be perceived as spammy behaviour, leading to bans or removal of your content. 

One user on Reddit asked “why don’t moderators just allow people to willy-nilly link to their own content.” This response pretty much sums it up: 

Take the time to engage with the community organically, gaining an understanding of acceptable linking practices and preferred modes of interaction. While some forums may have stringent guidelines, these measures contribute to a healthier and more engaged community environment. 

Align your link building strategy with the forum's guidelines, focusing on adding value to discussions and providing relevant resources to fellow members. At the end of the day, forum moderators deal with spammy link building all the time, and it is unlikely you’re going to be able to sneak one past them, so doing things the right way is not only the right thing to do, but avoids wasting your time. 

Strategic Link Placement Tactics

Once you've grasped the acceptable linking practices within a community, employ strategic tactics to integrate links effectively. Depending on the forum's guidelines and structure, consider various approaches such as:

• Include a link to your website in your profile or introduction.
• Sharing valuable insights or content relevant to discussions, accompanied by links for further information.
• Participating in promotional channels or threads designed for sharing links.
• Responsibly incorporating links in replies to posts, providing additional context or resources.

Moz, for instance, allows you to include personal links on your profile page. This user has included their social and website links there: 

The key is to add links in a manner that enhances the community's value while aligning with its guidelines. Adapt your linking strategy to suit the preferences of each forum, prioritizing meaningful contributions and fostering genuine engagement with fellow members.

Wrapping up

While forum backlinks may have lost their prominence as a direct SEO tactic and they are nofollow links by default, their significance lies in their potential to bolster a website's reputation and authority within niche communities, drive traffic and perhaps contribute positively to diversity in a backlink profile. 

What we most want you to take away from this article is that while the impact of forum backlinks on search rankings may be limited, leveraging them strategically can still help you strengthen brand presence, foster meaningful connections within relevant online communities and enjoy the indirect SEO benefits of things like engagement and increased traffic.