Ever since the first Penguin algorithm came out, I've found that backlinks within a forum post (with anchor text and just hard links) work better at gaining position in Google search, rather than just links in the signature line. Maybe this is because Google has started discounting the value of 'sitewide links' such as those found in signature links and blog side bar columns. Usually, I will get my article published on a forum that has an article directory section where it allows a backlink under the author's name within the post. Since this is not a sitewide link and only appears on one page and is not auto generated (as with a signature line), the backlink is more valuable. Have you tried out this idea?
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