According to DPS.MEDIA research, over 70% of websites increase traffic effectively when using backlinks from reputable forums. Choosing the right forum helps avoid the risk of Google penalties.
Discover the role of forums in an effective backlink building strategy for SMEs
Benefits of building backlinks on forums
Backlinks from forums help SMEs increase brand coverage and improve search rankings by expanding natural SEO signals. Forums often provide backlinks with relevant content, increasing website credibility.
Some typical benefits:
– Increase referral traffic from real discussion communities
– Promote faster indexing for new content
– Build reputation and brand recognition in the industry
According to Backlinko research (2023), backlinks placed in relevant discussion contexts have a 47% higher CTR compared to scattered external links.
Checklist before posting on forums
Posting backlinks on forums requires careful preparation to ensure effectiveness and avoid being marked as spam. Specific checklist:
– [ ] Choose forums with domain authority of 30+ or higher
– [ ] Accounts must be active for at least 7 days before posting links
– [ ] Article content must be contributive, at least 150 words
– [ ] Place links reasonably, no more than 2 dofollow links per article
– [ ] Check that the forum is not on Google's blacklist
Example: A decor shop owner in Ho Chi Minh City increased organic traffic by 261% after 2 months of activity on 3 interior design forums – according to internal data DPS.MEDIA compiled in 2022.
Tips for choosing forums for backlinking
🔎 First, choose forums with specialized content, for example Webtretho (for moms & babies), Tinhte (technology), or Otofun (cars – motorcycles).
💬 Avoid forums with high spam score (>10%) according to Moz or Ahrefs data.
📊 Find places with manual post approval – this ensures overall content quality of the forum and creates opportunities to keep backlinks sustainable.
Quick comparison table of popular forums
| forum | DA (Moz) | Main topic | Easy to place links? |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOZ.vn | 47 | Technology, IT | Easy (content must be natural) |
| Webtretho | 53 | Moms and babies, lifestyle | Medium (with moderation) |
| Lamchame | 41 | Online business, parenting | Easy |
Risks SMEs need to be aware of
Although forum backlinks bring long-term benefits, there are also many challenges:
– Easy to be flagged as spam if posting too many or irrelevant links
– Some low-quality forums can harm SEO metrics
– Difficult to maintain without a long-term content plan
Google once updated with the “Spam Update 2021,” causing many SMEs to lose all traffic volume due to spammy backlink types on forums.
Brief conclusion
Forum backlinks are a potential tool in SEO strategy for SMEs – if done correctly and choosing the appropriate platform. Focus on contribution rather than just link insertion to maintain long-term credibility.
Criteria for choosing free forums for backlinking that ensure safety and credibility
Forums must still be active regularly
A “live” forum is one with active members, continuously updated new topics, and real interactions. Avoid forums that have been “dead” for a long time with nearly zero new posts.
You can check:
– Most recent post date (within 30 days)
– Number of members currently online
– Interaction on each topic: comments, likes
Google's indexing capability & domain quality
Even if the forum is free, ensure posts are well indexed by Google for backlinks to have SEO value. Also, the domain should have DA (Domain Authority) and TF (Trust Flow) scores from average upwards.
Function comparison table:
| Criteria | Minimum | First |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Authority (Moz) | 20+ | 30+ |
| Trust flow (Majestic) | 15+ | 25+ |
| Reliable from Google | Indexed | Regular crawling |
Forums that avoid spam, strict moderation
A quality forum usually has a good moderation team, limits spam, SEO junk, or outright link selling. Forums with too many outbound links or duplicate content reduce backlink value.
Signs to avoid:
– Anchor text spam like “buy now,” “super discount”
– Flooding links in every post
– Repeated copy-paste content
Quick checklist when choosing forums for backlinking
- ✅ Minimum monthly traffic of 5,000 (Source: Ahrefs, 2023)
- ✅ Average DA/TF scores or higher
- ✅ Content not flagged as spam
- ✅ Allows link insertion in signature or posts
- ✅ Links related to your field topics
📍 A real example: Forum A (*anonymous*) has DA = 28, directly related to real estate, averaging >851 indexed posts per month within 3 days, according to Google Search Console data.
Warnings & challenges when building free backlinks
Do not abuse backlinks from unreliable forums – Google may classify your website as spam and lower rankings. Building aimless links easily leads to “toxic backlinks,” negatively affecting SEO long-term.
Takeaway: First, choose forums that are still active, moderated, and allow contextual backlinks – this is the safest and most sustainable way to build off-page SEO for businesses.
Popular forums and quality suitable for various business fields
1. Technology & startup forums
This is an ideal choice for startups, IT, and developing digital platform businesses. Forums like:
– Vozforums
– Tinhte.vn
– TechRum
allow you to place backlinks in signatures or comments (with moderation), while also accessing an active user community.
2. SEO & digital marketing forums
Suitable choices for the field of advertising and digital services. Some high-quality forums include:
– Thegioiseo.com
– Seomxh.com
– iSocial.vn
These three platforms allow creating signatures containing links and writing experience-sharing posts with do-follow links. However, it is necessary to consistently build a clear profile.
3. General forums for commerce & services
Suitable for fields such as F&B, fashion, education, logistics…
– Webtretho: good for health care & consumer sectors
– Lamchame: very strong in small business models, franchising
– 5giay.vn: lively with buying and selling posts – convenient for attaching product links
Although backlinks on these forums are mostly no-follow, the reliability and actual traffic help significantly increase brand recognition.
Checklist for effective backlink building on forums
- ☑️ Choose forums suitable for your business field
- ☑️ Build a real personal profile (Information, avatar, signature…)
- ☑️ Contribute ideas, reply to posts before posting backlinks
- ☑️ Use natural anchor text, avoid keyword spam
- ☑️ Check if the link is hidden, no-index or not
Example table: Forum + link type + suitable field
| Forum | Link type | Suitable field |
|---|---|---|
| Thegioiseo | Do-follow (signature) | Marketing, SEO |
| Webtretho | No-follow | Mom & baby, F&B |
| Vozforums | No-follow | Technology, Startup |
Real example from an interior business
A small business in the interior industry increased 14% natural visitor traffic after only 2 months of posting and creating signature backlinks on 5giay.vn and iSocial (*according to analysis from Google Search Console, Q3/2023*). Although not all backlinks are do-follow, useful content and proper writing still convert effectively.
Main message
Leverage quality forums to help businesses expand coverage and diversify backlink sources, but a well-planned strategy is needed to ensure safety and long-term effectiveness.
Strategy to participate and interact on forums to optimize the value of received backlinks
Choose forums suitable for the field
First, prioritize forums with the same niche relevant to your industry. Backlinks from related forums bring better link metrics according to Backlinko's 2023 research.
Some factors for choosing quality forums:
- Domain Authority from 30 and above (can be checked via Moz)
- Forums with regularly active users
- Have specialized categories suitable for your business field
Example: A health business can choose Webtretho (Mom & Baby category) or Lamchame to share expert posts and attach reasonable source links.
How to place backlinks naturally and effectively
Avoid spamming links everywhere. Instead,
- Attach links in personal account signatures
- Place links in posts sharing solutions to specific problems
- Insert links less than twice per post and always make them referential
Build a reputable profile before inserting links
Large forums usually limit link insertion rights for new accounts. To avoid being banned:
- Create an account and post 5-10 posts without links
- Provide valuable feedback in trending topics
- Upvote and thank other members to increase trust level
Example: An SEO freelancer who participated in Voz.vn, after having 20 quality interactions, can start inserting links in posts with a higher approval rate than 80%.
Checklist for proper forum interaction
| Step | Specific actions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Register an account, add an avatar and signature |
| 2 | Participate in at least 2 topics/day during the first 5 days |
| 3 | Place backlinks in valuable sharing posts, avoid blatant advertising |
| 4 | Monitor feedback and respond to interactions to maintain trust |
Warning: Risks of spamming links
According to Google Guidelines (2022), backlinks from forums that are irrelevant or unnaturally inserted may be considered spam links, affecting the entire site. A case study from Ahrefs (2023) recorded a website losing over 30% traffic after removing backlinks from spam forums.
Short takeaway:
Pursue long-term value by building genuine reputation on forums to receive natural backlinks, resulting in more sustainable outcomes than spamming quantity.
Notes to avoid risks when building backlinks on online community platforms
Choose platforms suitable for the field and with high credibility
Posting backlinks on inappropriate or low-quality forums can cause negative effects, impacting domain reputation. According to Ahrefs (2023), over 55% backlinks from spammy forums generated no traffic. First, forums should have:
– Topics related to the business field
– DR (Domain Rating) > 40, DA (Domain Authority) from 30 upwards
– An active community (at least 100 posts/month)
Tip: Use tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to check forum quality before posting links.
Avoid spamming meaningless posts or comments
Spamming links by inserting many identical anchor texts causes Google to consider it manipulative behavior. Additionally, forum moderators can easily delete posts or ban accounts. To limit violations:
– Do not use the same content across all forums
– Include at least 3-5 lines of valuable content before inserting backlinks
– Vary anchor text and URLs reasonably (Exact Match < 30%)
Be cautious when using fake accounts or automated tools
Although many tools offer automatic forum posting solutions, Google and forums have algorithms to detect bots. For example: a campaign using spam posting tools on 200 forums in 2022 saw traffic drop by ~47% (Source: Search Engine Journal, 2022).
Tip: Always create and nurture real profiles by regularly interacting (like, comment, update bio…)
Checklist before and after building backlinks
- ✔ Forums that have been active for at least 1 year
- ✔ Not deindexed by Google (use site:domain.com to check)
- ✔ Topics related to products/services
- ✔ Use nofollow backlinks if the forum is not trustworthy
- ✔ Monitor effectiveness via Google Search Console within 2-4 weeks
Forum classification table by risk level
| Types of forums | Risks | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized forums (e.g., Webtretho, VOZ) | Low | Focus on building profiles & quality content |
| Auto forum posting tools | High | Avoid or use sparingly <10% |
| SEO-oriented forums (backlink exchange) | Average | Check DR/DA and spam history |
Real example: Warning from a misdirected backlink campaign
An agency in Ho Chi Minh City (anonymous) ran forum backlink campaigns with 150 links/week for 3 months. Result: Website received a Google manual action warning in June 2023 for “unnatural links.” After removing 70% links and submitting a reconsideration request, traffic recovered by 60% after 2 months.
Brief takeaway
Focus on quality over quantity. A natural backlink from a specialized forum is worth many times more than dozens of spam links. Carefully checking platforms, building useful content, and genuine interaction are key factors for a sustainable backlink strategy.
Integrate backlink building from forums into the overall digital marketing plan of the business
Reasons to integrate forum backlinks into the overall strategy
– Forums remain a channel for creating free backlink effective, especially for small and medium businesses. - If used correctly, backlinks from forums help increase natural search coverage and improve the website's trust score.
- According to data from Backlinko (2023), websites with diverse backlink sources (including forums) often see ranking growth from 15-28 positions within the first 3 months of SEO implementation.
Apply real examples from the overall marketing plan
A domestic logistics company integrated forum channels into its digital platform, specifically:
- First, threads related to transportation on VietCargo and Webtretho.
- Attach profile links to the main service page, posting only 2-3 times/week to avoid spam.
- Combine with UTM to evaluate traffic sources → After 2 months, referral traffic from forums accounted for 71% of total visits, with average time on site increasing by 28 seconds.
Weekly action checklist when implementing forum backlinks
- Find a list of active and industry-related forums (e.g., Tinhte, Voz, etc).
- Provide useful feedback, advice, or share helpful information before placing links.
- Insert links naturally in text or attach them to personal profiles.
- Record results via Google Analytics & Search Console.
- Check forum DA/PA quarterly to ensure long-term effectiveness.
Template for tracking forum backlink effectiveness
| Forum | Number of links | Traffic from forums | Conversion rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webtretho | 3 | 280 | 1.2% |
| VOZ Forums | 4 | 410 | 1.8% |
Risks to consider when using backlinks from forums
- Google may consider backlinks as spam if built too quickly or unnaturally.
- Many old forums with low DA lead to backlinks that do not bring real SEO value. - Avoid overly common sites with duplicate content and lack of moderation.
Takeaway
Forum backlinks are valuable when implemented with a strategic and balanced approach. Integrating into overall digital marketing helps increase coverage, referral traffic, and supports SEO if done correctly and on suitable platforms.
Update trends and tools to support backlink management from forums to maintain sustainable rankings
Backlink building trends on forums in 2024
Instead of mass link spamming, current SEO experts focus on high-quality and sustainable backlinks. Forums with high authority (DA > 40), relevant topics, and real interaction are becoming top choices.
According to a survey from Ahrefs (2023), over 74% of SEOers use forums to create backlinks, but only 36% of those achieve long-term effectiveness if lacking content quality control.
Effective backlink management support tools
To maintain long-term ranking on Google SERP, you need to regularly monitor backlink performance using tools such as:
- Ahrefs: Analyze backlink quality and detect harmful links.
- Google Search Console: Check official backlink indexing from Google.
- SEMrush: Monitor backlink and anchor text fluctuations.
A real example: A fintech start-up used 12 forums to list backlinks. After 4 months optimizing with these tools, Organic Traffic increased by 18.71% and Bounce Rate decreased by 91% (Source: DPS.MEDIA internal report, 2023).
Checklist: managing backlinks from forums
- 📌 Check Authority Score (DA/DR) ≥ 30
- 🔍 Evaluate topic relevance (Topic Relevance)
- 🛠 Audit via Ahrefs or Monitor Backlinks every 2 weeks
- 📝 Content must be natural and contribute expertise
- 🔗 Hide links in short, non-repetitive anchor text
Table: Comparison of popular backlink management tools
| Tool | Key features | Reference price |
|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Check anchor text, detect bad backlinks | 99 USD/month |
| Google Search Console | Free, official backlink updates from Google | 0 USD |
| SEMrush | Backlink profile analysis & Toxic Score measurement | 119 USD/month |
takeaway
The ability to control backlinks can determine the long-term SEO effectiveness of 40%. Combine selecting reputable forums and monitoring tools to ensure backlinks do not become an SEO burden.
Preparation for the next journey
Choosing quality forums helps increase SEO effectiveness and reduce risks. Free backlinks still have value if you know how to use them properly.
Try applying the forum list immediately into your SEO strategy. Measure results after a few weeks to evaluate actual effectiveness.
You can learn more about tools that support backlink quality checking. Or explore how to build a professional entity system for your website.
DPS.MEDIA always accompanies Vietnamese SMEs on the journey of sustainable growth. Share your thoughts with us right below in the comments!
