Forum Submission in SEO

Forum submission is an older SEO tactic that involves participating in online forums and discussion boards to build backlinks and drive traffic. It's part of traditional link building strategies, though its effectiveness and best practices have evolved significantly.

How It Works:

1. Finding relevant forums in your niche (using search queries like "keyword + forum" or sites like Reddit, Quora, specialized industry forums)
2. Creating profiles and engaging in discussions
3. Including links to your website in:
   • Forum signatures
   • Profile pages
   • Thread replies (when contextually relevant)

Traditional vs. Modern Approach:

Old/Toxic Approach (Now Penalized):

• Spamming forums with low-quality links
• Using unrelated forums just for links
• Automated submissions
• Keyword-stuffed anchor text

Modern/Best Practice Approach:

• Genuine participation in relevant communities
• Adding value through helpful responses
• Natural link placement only when truly useful
• No-follow links (most forums add no-follow tags automatically)
• Building authority rather than just links

Current SEO Value:

• Link quality: Most forum links are no-follow, so minimal direct SEO benefit