One of the better ways to build links to a website is by posting in online forums and message boards. Forum works on a number of different levels. From making personal contacts, known as networking, to actually building links that point to back to a forum.
Promoting a website on an online forum is a great way for the website owner to establish a good amount of good will and credibility. When someone is active on a forum in a helpful way, answering questions, providing helpful tips, being a resource for others, their reputation will grow by leaps and bounds. This all lays the groundwork for a time in the future when someone seeking information needs help and chooses to go to the website of the person promoting their site on the forum.
There are so many benefits that can help a website owner who chooses to promote their website through posting at an online forum. From actually getting traffic through link placement in the signature file to possibly making future business contacts, the benefits of forum promotion can often not only be huge, but also not surface for months or longer.