According to the survey of DPS.MEDIA,over 78% of successful SEO campaigns use backlinks from quality forums.
Choosing the right forum not only improves website credibility but also significantly increases organic traffic.
In this article, DPS.MEDIA will share forum sources suitable for various fields, helping you save time and build backlinks effectively.
The importance of quality forums in the 2025 backlink strategy
Why choose quality forums?
In the 2025 period, Google increasingly prioritizes natural backlinks from highly trusted sources. Forums are among the few platforms that allow building community-based backlinks, but if you choose the wrong source, your website may be filtered by the SpamBrain algorithm. A survey from Ahrefs (2024) shows:
– 63% of websites with quality forum backlinks grew steadily over the next 6 months
– Meanwhile, 47% of websites using spam forums saw a drop in rankings during the same period
Criteria for identifying “premium” forums”
For forums to fulfill their backlink role, ensure:
- DA (Domain Authority) of 40 or higher
- Topics relevant to the industry (SEO, marketing, technology, etc.)
- Avoid spam signs: Too many outbound links, repetitive content
- Active community, with responses within 1-3 days
- Allows signatures or links in posts
Quick checklist when choosing forums
- ✅ Check DA/PA using Ahrefs or Moz
- ✅ Check frequency of recent post updates
- ✅ Check the ratio of nofollow/dofollow links
- ✅ Read at least 3 posts and evaluate interaction quality
Real-life example from an anonymous case
An (anonymous) agency used 12 high-quality forums in the e-commerce field to build backlinks for a product page. After 4 months, referral traffic increased by 281% and the main keyword rose 9 positions on the SERP without additional ad budget.
Forum evaluation index table for backlinks
| Criteria | Optimization points |
|---|---|
| DA/PA | 40+ |
| Number of new posts/week | 10+ posts |
| dofollow link | At least 30% |
| Relevant industry | ✅ |
Challenges & risks when choosing the wrong forum
– Forums flagged as spam by Google can cause the entire domain to lose credibility
– Time spent building posts but not getting indexed
– Backlinks from spam forums can backfire,negatively affecting E-E-A-T
Takeaway
Placing backlinks on forums is a double-edged sword – if optimized correctly, this is still a sustainable link-building strategy for SEO 2025. Invest in selecting quality forums as carefully as choosing a news site to appear on.
Criteria for selecting reputable forums to support sustainable SEO
1. Domain quality and authority metrics
When choosing forums, prioritize platforms with:
– Domain Authority (DA) score of 30 or higher
– Actual monthly traffic > 5,000 visits (according to ahrefs, 2023)
– Sustainable growth in natural backlinks
Example: A technology forum in Vietnam maintains over 42,000 visits/month (according to SimilarWeb, 2023), providing steady referral traffic for anchor posts about hosting.
2. Moderation level and anti-spam measures
Quality SEO forums always:
– There is an article approval mechanism and automatic spam filtering
– Does not allow inserting too many links in one content
– Limits repeated signatures and anchor text
If a forum is blacklisted by Google (mostly due to link spam), backlinks there are not only useless but can also negatively affect SEO.
TIP: Try posting a sample comment; if it is approved within 24 hours and the link is not deleted, that forum likely has good manual moderation.
3. Relevant topics and real communities
Backlinks are most valuable when placed in content of the same field. Check:
– Is the forum topic related to your niche?
– Are users genuinely interacting (views, comments) or just automated tools?
– Has the account been active for over 3 months and has a posting history?
A high-quality backlink on a gaming platform while you work in finance will not generate conversions.
Quick checklist for evaluating SEO forums
- ☑ DA ≥ 30 and spam score ≤ 10%
- ☑ Monthly organic traffic ≥ 5000 (Ahrefs, SEMrush)
- ☑ Articles are indexed quickly by Google (within 1-3 days)
- ☑ Forum has a clear article approval schedule, not abandoned
- ☑ Topics are consistent with your SEO field
Quick classification table of popular forums
| Forum name | DA | Traffic | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| vnz.vn | 47 | 12K/month | Technology, SEO |
| webtretho.com | 59 | 55K/month | Lifestyle, services |
| voz.vn | 65 | 420K/month | Technology, society |
Takeaway: Prioritize quality over quantity – just 5 reputable forum backlinks are more “valuable” than 50 backlinks from low-quality websites.
Analysis of industry-specific forums suitable for SMEs in Vietnam
Characteristics of forums suitable for the Vietnamese market
SMEs should prioritize forums with topics relevant to their business field, stable operation for 3-5 years, and a community of genuinely engaged users. Below are some common selection criteria:
- Trusted domain: DA score > 40 and stable traffic (Ahrefs, 2023).
- Specialization: Forums focusing on 1-2 specific industries will provide higher quality backlinks.
- Allows Dofollow links: Dofollow rate should be above 50% to effectively support SEO.
Practical example: A company providing spa equipment regularly posted on lamchame.com (family & personal care forum), thereby increasing organic traffic by 29% in 60 days (Google Search Console, 2022).
List of highly rated forums
Small businesses can start with the following platforms:
| Forum name | Main field | DA (Ahrefs 2023) | Outbound link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webtretho | Lifestyle, health | 66 | Dofollow & Nofollow |
| Tinhte.vn | Technology | 71 | Dofollow (limited) |
| ddth.com | Business & technology | 55 | Dofollow |
| Lamchame.com | Mother & baby, consumer | 48 | nofollow |
Tip: Prioritize building long-term forum accounts (at least 2 months), post regularly 2-3 times/week to avoid being marked as spam.
Checklist for effective forum backlink implementation
- ✔ Create a new account with clear business information.
- ✔ Skillfully place a signature containing an anchor link to the main landing page.
- ✔ Create useful content, avoid inserting links too blatantly.
- ✔ Check the link using Google Search Console after 2-3 weeks.
- ✔ Monitor Referring Domains metrics on Ahrefs monthly.
Consider challenges & risks
Many major forums have tightened advertising post policies, making backlinks easy to delete or mark as spam. In addition, if you only focus on the number of links and ignore content quality, your business may lose trust points from Google (Moz, 2023).
Takeaway: Forum backlinks are still a valuable SEO signal source if carefully selected and strategically implemented – especially suitable for SMEs with modest SEO budgets.
Effective backlink building strategies on multi-platform forums
Identify core platforms based on industry
Not every forum brings SEO value. Prioritize platforms:
– Directly related to your industry
– Frequently indexed by Google (check with site:url)
– Real user interaction, new posts within the last 7 days
Example: In the financial sector, forums like Webtretho or Voz are less effective than specialized groups such as the Vietnam Banking Forum.
Sustainable backlink growth strategy
An effective backlink should be built with a plan. Avoid link spamming or mass posting of the same content:
Effective implementation method:
– Create an actively engaged user profile first (polite, meaningful comments)
– Place the link in a reply that shares experience, not advertising
– Keep the link posting frequency to a maximum of 1 post/3 days to avoid being banned
A SEMrush report (State of Link Building, 2023) shows:
Backlinks from forums with Authority Score > 35 are usually indexed within 48h and help increase CTR by up to 121%.
Weekly implementation checklist
- ✔️ Make a list of 10 forums/quarter with stable traffic (based on SimilarWeb)
- ✔️ Write 4-5 sharing/discussion posts containing a maximum of 1 dofollow backlink
- ✔️ Check index status via Google Search Console every week
- ✔️ Analyze the Bounce Rate from forum links
Illustration of results on the data table
| Forum | Clicks/week | Backlink type | Index status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VietnamWorks Forum | 94 | Dofollow | ✓ Indexed after 3 days |
| VOZ Technology | 63 | Nofollow | ✓ Slow index (7 days) |
| Online Marketing VN | 127 | Dofollow | ✓ Fast index (1 day) |
Warning: Risks of backlink spamming
Google has updated the SpamBrain algorithm (Q1/2024), prioritizing the removal of “meaningless” links from forums. If abused:
– Accounts may be locked or posts hidden
– Websites receiving links may experience a sudden drop in rankings
Consider the ratio: only allocate a maximum of 20% of total backlinks from forums. Diversify the rest through blogs, social media, and press.
Takeaway
Forum backlinks only provide value when built correctly: choose the right platform, share in-depth content, and maintain regular activity. A few high-quality backlinks will have a greater impact than 100 bad links penalized by Google.
How to leverage forums to increase engagement and develop your brand
Optimize personal profile and signature
– Set a clear avatar and a brief professional description to increase credibility.
– Insert controlled links into your signature, prioritizing landing pages related to the forum topic.
– Don’t over “spam” – only use signatures on quality posts.
Share valuable and relevant content
– Posting in the form of guides, checklists, or case studies is the best way to attract attention.
– Prioritize sharing real experiences over generic content.
– Respond to comments within 24 hours to keep the discussion going.
Example: An SEOer posted “7 Common CRO Mistakes on SaaS Landing Pages” in the VietMoz forum, received 22 shares and 8 natural backlinks in 14 days (Source: Personal UTM Analytics tracking, 2023).
Action checklist for beginner SEOs
- Join 3 forums relevant to your field (SEO, Digital Marketing)
- Post at least 1 valuable share each week
- Provide in-depth responses to 5 new topics each month
- Insert backlinks into posts after at least 5 interactions
Table: Types of content to share
| Content types | Targets | Attraction effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist | Provide quick application tools | ★★★★★ |
| Real Case Study | Prove experience | ★★★★★ |
| In-depth Q&A | Increase personal interaction | ★★★☆☆ |
Warnings and risks to note
– Overusing repeated anchor text can have a counterproductive effect on SEO.
– Spamming content or copying from other sources can easily get you permanently banned from the forum.
– Some forums have a policy of removing backlinks after a period if there is no further interaction.
Takeaway
Leverage forums not only to get backlinks but also as an opportunity to build personal brand expertise. Creating real value and responding proactively will help you be more sustainable in SEO 2025.
– DPS.MEDIA JSC –
Notes when joining forums to avoid Google penalties
Avoid excessive link spamming
SEOs often overuse the same anchor text and densely post links in signatures or article content. This is easily detected by Google as search result manipulation.
- Diversify anchor text and links
- Only insert 1-2 backlinks per article
- Do not post the same link on many similar topics
Choose forums with reputable metrics
Not every forum is suitable for building backlinks. According to Ahrefs 2023 statistics, over 41% of backlinks from low-quality forums are not indexed by Google.
- Prioritize forums with DR > 30 and stable traffic
- Refer to DA/PA from tools like Moz or Ahrefs
- Avoid forums being spammed with links or having low activity
| Forum | Domain Rating | DA (Moz) |
|---|---|---|
| vlforum.net | 47 | 52 |
| webtretho.com | 61 | 58 |
Action checklist before posting
You can use the following list to check safety before posting a link on a forum:
- Account must be active for at least 5 days
- Must have 3-5 posts without links
- Post content must be valuable – avoid types like “buy backlinks at…”
- Backlinks should point to quality sites (optimized content, good speed)
Warning from real case studies
A freelance SEOer (anonymous) shared on Reddit (2022) that their website lost 40% organic traffic after pushing 60 backlinks from 15 forums in just 3 days. Google flagged it for “manipulative content.”.
Takeaway
Forum backlinks are still effective if you choose the right place and method. Don’t sacrifice sustainable rankings just for “cheap” or quick links.
Forum trends and future backlink management tools
SEO forums continue to exist, but change
– Forums are gradually reducing direct backlink exchange, focusing more on knowledge sharing and effective profile building.- Content moderation is becoming stricter due to Google’s increasingly sophisticated anti-spam algorithms.
– Example: An SEOer in Hanoi shared that, a post sharing content optimization experience on a major forum brought in over 120 natural backlinks within 3 months.
New tools to help SEOs monitor backlinks
– The popularity of AI platforms like Semrush AI Writing Assistant or Surfer SEO helps strengthen the connection between content and natural anchor text.
– Popular backlink monitoring tools in 2024:
– ahrefs: Analyze backlink quality and growth rate.
– BacklinkManager: Track the progress of each posting campaign.
– Linkbox.pro: Manage links from multiple sources at once.
Tip: Schedule regular backlink scans (every 2 weeks) to detect broken links and remove backlinks from low-quality sources.
Effective backlink management checklist for 2025
- 📝 Create a list of forums with domain authority > 40 (DA: Moz)
- 🔍 Use a spam backlink detection tool (Google's Disavow Tool)
- 📈 Track backlink performance by campaign, not by individual link
- 📤 Integrate summary reporting tools into the weekly workflow
Statistics table of the most used SEO tools in 2024
| Tool | Key features | Usage rate (1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Deep backlink profile analysis | 78% |
| Semrush | Comprehensive SEO management | 64% |
| Majestic | Trust Flow & Citation Flow metrics | 39% |
challenges and notes for SEOers
– Google's algorithm is increasingly reducing the weight of backlinks from low-quality or duplicate-content forums.- Over 32% of backlinks are lost within 6 months if not maintained (according to SEOTrends Report 2023).
– It is necessary to combine content strategy and personal branding in forums to create long-lasting backlinks.
takeaway
Backlink management is no longer about “the more the better”, but “the more relevant, the more sustainable”. Using the right tools and keeping up with trends will help SEOs maintain rankings naturally and effectively.
Valuable lessons
The 2025 forum backlink list is a practical tool to enhance SEO effectiveness.
Choosing the right platform helps build credibility and improve search rankings.
Start reviewing your backlink profile and try posting on a few reputable forums.
Practice step by step to monitor keyword performance changes.
You may be interested in topics such as forum seeding for niche industries or case studies on increasing traffic with Forum SEO.
These contents will expand your diverse backlink strategy. Don't forget to follow DPS.MEDIA to update the latest SEO knowledge for SMEs.
Comment below if you have more forum suggestions or questions that need answers!
