Effectiveness of Signature Advertising?

[Carson]

I recently began to think about how effective putting a graphic in your signature is, with a URL. So, I'm just kind of curious, how often do you click signature ads? And for a reply, how effective do you think they are?

 

[Lee Lawson]

I just started putting my link up in my signature, sometimes they are good as the graphic can pull you in, in a way, but I am hoping it gives me something at the end of it.

 

[thegrandkaidbz]

I have never click on someone's signature. I don't think signature ads are very effective but it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[Guardian]

I very rarely click them, but I have done it. It's just another avenue to take to try to pull those that would click it to your site.

As he said, it never hurts to try.

 

[Kino]

I voted sometimes. I like the graphics in the signatures. Sometimes it's hard to grasp a forum by just hearing the name and you need a little more. Seeing a nice, professional graphic can sometimes show you how the forum feels, without being on it.

 

[SheepishWolf]

I actually click almost everyone's signature that I see (unless for some reason I dislike you..which I don't think is the case for most of you). People come on here to advertise as do most of you in return, why not spread the love of one more page view, comment or member? After all, these are all free services. And..I remember back when I was a newish forumer and it made me feel great to have a new view 😛
Besides, it's interesting to see such a variety of blogs, forums, and websites that people come here to promote.
Bleh, just my opinion though.

 

[Carson]

I have never click on someone's signature. I don't think signature ads are very effective but it doesn't hurt to try.

See, that's pretty much what I thought. It really couldn't hurt since it only takes a second to add.

 

[Marc]

For link building, not very effective.

For advertising, depending on the website, very effective.

 

[Gimgak]

At least on FP I turn signatures off, so not a lot at all, almost never.

 

[Hobbies230]

Never - I always turn signatures off.

 

[Felicia]

I would say they're only effective when someone spots something in a sig they're either interested in or curious about. I have never clicked on someone's sig here, usually I just ignore them.

 

[Joshua Farrell]

It really depends. I click only when I see something that might interest me.

 

[isidoriu]

Signatures attacts my curiosity and my interest on what is working on the person that posted the post.

 

[MissTake]

I click from time to time, I find them the quickest way to get to a site when I need to for what ever reason.
I personally think they add colour to the forum too and ones that are really well made do encourage me to click on them even if I'm not overly bothered by the genre. 😉

 

[Mr. Duck]

i click on them sometimes, usually the ones that stand out.

 

[The Visitors]

I think if you're going to use "sig ads", you need to make your comments very interesting. If all you do is post small and simple post, often you're "sig" will be quickly over looked. There are of course those who are just going to view it as "spam" if all you post is small threads, asking everyone what their favorite colors is for example.

Communities want to know that if they even bother to acknowledge your link, they want to know that the individual who is endorsing it, has something worth saying and not just a bunch of one liners. Once you've made yourself known, you also should not push yourself to much out there. Rather you want to reply and add more to other member's thoughts and not just do a simple "post and run".

Being friendly is nice, but it is also OK to disagree with some of the other posters. Again, its about showing that you really have something to offer & given an example of who you are and not just be there to pass ad space for everyone to see. So getting into a debate or two is always a plus.

So being yourself is a good idea. And accept that its best to be an active member of a community, to which those members may inquire on your community.

But never talk about your community in someone else's community. This can quickly bring a negative impact and can also rub the site owner the wrong way very fast. Rather let your sig talk for your about your ad and just enjoy being an active member of that community.

 

[fantanoice]

It depends where you're advertising them. I mean if I had a Mario website and advertised it on a Nintendo website, then I'm obviously reaching my target audience and may get some results.

As for promotion sites like this, I find it little-to-not effective at all, simply because there's too much competition, the niche probably isn't as obvious, and people know you're leeching the promotion forum for activity (yes, there's no need to deny it).

You've got to be smart about signature advertising or you won't get results - just like any other form of advertising.


Of course, they can help get keywords and improve SEO as well, but that's a different story.


As for me clicking them, I usually give things a look over if it seems like something I'm interested in. As for forums advertised here, I usually browse them, but not join unless I can organise an exchange. I may join one I see advertised somewhere else, though.

 

[Guardian]

Target Audience is a biggie.

I haven't really invested time into mine because I don't really click on them, but I'm sure if I saw a sig that had college football in it I would.

i just don't like forums that ban them altogether. I understand having restrictions on them, but none is sort of trying to keep control of the masses I think.

 

[Deleted member 7467]

I voted sometimes, because I sometimes click the really well put together sigs. Signatures that are boring, have a poorly made graphics, or don't give any indication of what's being advertised will be ignored.