Most forum owners allow forum members to include a link in their signature since they provide free content for the forum. However, there are some very selfish website owners like Indusladies.com who do not allow forum posters to include a link in the signature.
The website owners earn money from the advertising on the website but forum members are expected to contribute without any benefit. Such websites are best avoided.
Some people do not post in forums and newsgroups as they feel that it will be a waste of time. However, online marketers know that posting in forums can be a very good source of targetted traffic to any website, if done properly.
Some of the advantages of posting in popular high traffic forums are:
1. The internet is constantly changing and forums are often the first place where new ideas are posted. By posting or lurking in forums, an internet marketer remains updated on the latest trends.
2. The best selling products / services are those for which there is a lot of demand. New products / services can be developed by studying the demand for a particular product.
3. By posting in relevant forums, the marketer can reach the target market, who will visit their website for more information.
4. Making useful posts helps in building trust and credibility
5. Signature links can be used to promote products and services, which can be indirectly promoted in the posts . However, different forums have different rules regarding signature links and care should be taken to follow them.
6. Many search engines rank forums high in their search results, and posting can help the website get ranked in search engines.