Forum Link Building vs. Guest Blogging: Which is Better?

Backlinks still rule the SEO game. But in 2025, it’s not just about getting links. It’s about getting the right ones.

And that’s where many teams get stuck. Which type of link building should we do? It can feel like a minefield out there with the varying types of organic link building.

Guest blogging or forum link building, what’s worth your time?

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how these two tactics stack up, where each one shines, where they fall short, and how to use both to build a safer, smarter backlink strategy.

Let’s get into it.

Forum Link Building vs Guest Blogging: What’s the Difference?

When choosing between forum links and guest posts, it’s helpful to understand what each one offers.

They’re not interchangeable; they serve different purposes, hit different signals, and play different roles in your backlink strategy.

Here’s how they stack up:

Feature	Forum Link Building	Guest Blogging
Source Type	User-generated communities	Publisher/editorial blogs
Link Context	Inside genuine community conversations	Inside blog content or author bios
Moderation	Community-driven, strict	Publisher/editor approval
Link Type	Often nofollow, but trusted	Usually dofollow
SEO Impact	Diversifies link profile, aids E-E-A-T & AI visibility	Strong ranking weight & traffic authority
Risk	Low if authentic, zero footprint	Low unless abused or over-optimized

Forum backlinks build trust, credibility, and unstructured brand awareness across communities Google and LLMs like ChatGPT actively crawl.

Guest posts give you the authoritative, keyword-rich signals that push rankings.

✅ One aids ranking signals that indirectly improve SEO rankings.

✅ The other directly hits important SEO ranking signals.

Use both, and your backlink profile stops looking like a one-trick pony with clear footprints and starts looking like a real brand enjoying “organic” growth.

Why Forum Links Matter More Than Ever

Google’s not just crawling polished blog posts anymore. It’s tuning into the raw, unfiltered conversations happening in forums, threads, and comment sections all over the web.

Here’s what’s changed:

• Google now treats UGC (user-generated content) and nofollow links as ranking signals, not just noise.
• LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are trained on Reddit, Quora, and other forums, where real conversations shape brand trust and topical authority. Reddit signed a $60 million deal with Google to feed its forum content directly into its AI models.
• Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines reward brands that show up in real conversations, because those mentions scream credibility.

If people aren’t talking about your brand where real discussions happen, you’re missing a massive visibility layer in both organic and AI-driven search.

Forum links do what guest posts can’t:

They blend in, branch out, and build user-generated credibility.

Here’s why forum links might just be the best-kept secret in your SEO arsenal:

✅ They diversify your backlink profile.

No more “guest post factory” footprints that trip Google’s filters. Forums keep your link graph looking natural.

✅ They boost visibility in both Google and AI-powered search.

Your brand starts showing up not just in SERPs, but in ChatGPT threads, Gemini snapshots, and Claude responses.

✅ They drop your brand into trusted, human conversations.

People read them. Algorithms crawl them. And trust gets built where it actually matters.

Herd links: The forum backlinking solution that Google loves

We didn’t guess our way into this. Herd Links (our forum backlinking service) is the result of 18+ months of testing, refining, and reverse-engineering what actually works across the top forums and community websites on the web.

Built by Growth Partners Media, it’s designed for one thing:

Getting your brand mentioned naturally in the places Google and AI actually trust.

We place third-party brand mentions inside real conversations across:

• Reddit
• Quora
• Shopify Community
• 400+ niche, high-authority forums

Every placement is hand-curated, community-approved, and fully aligned with Google’s UGC guidelines.

No spam. No junk directories. No footprints.

Just clean, contextual forum links that boost credibility and drive visibility across the platforms, shaping modern search.

Here’s an example:

When a user on Reddit asked for help finding a Southern California wedding venue, our team naturally joined the conversation by recommending a curated venue list, matching their needs and linking to a trusted resource.

This type of authentic interaction drives real engagement, builds brand trust, and creates the kind of UGC footprint Google and LLMs are now prioritizing.

We wrote a guide distilling some of the core principles for getting backlinks from Reddit if you want to learn how to do this. We also wrote a similar guide for Quora.

What Guest Blogging Still Does Best

Guest blogging still pulls serious weight when done right.

Here’s how guest blogging still earns its keep:

✅ Strong SEO authority

Guest posts on high-DR blogs can move the needle fast. Editorial links placed inside relevant, keyword-optimized content still pass some of the strongest PageRank signals available.

When Google sees your site getting mentioned by trusted publishers in your space, it pays attention. So, these aren’t just links, they’re endorsements. And they carry real ranking power that helps push your important pages higher up in the search engines.

✅ Content control & depth

With guest posts, you own the narrative. You control the content, the messaging, the anchor text and that’s a big deal.

It gives you the space to target specific keywords, showcase expertise, and build topical authority in your niche.

Forum links are reactive, allowing you to join existing conversations.

Guest blogging is proactive. You shape the conversation around your brand.

Guest blogging isn’t for every link, but when you need direct ranking signals, it delivers the results.

It’s the right move when:

• You’re targeting specific keywords or topic clusters for ranking and traffic growth
• You want to drive link equity to high-impact cornerstone pages
• You’re building topical authority through long-form content
• You want to grow your website’s domain authority

Guest blogging is still the go-to for passing link equity and controlling how your brand is positioned. It builds strength, and it builds it exactly where you need it.

Use Cases: When to Choose Forum Link Building vs Guest Blogging

No two links are built the same. And no single tactic wins every time.

Knowing when to deploy forum links vs guest posts is what separates a scattershot approach from a real strategy.

Choose forum link building when:

✅ You want to build brand mentions and diversify your profile

If your backlink profile is starting to look like a guest post graveyard with the same format, exact anchor text, and same author bios, forum links are your reset button.

They build authority and trust for E-E-A-T, grow brand search and help AI algorithms understand where your brand sits in your competitive landscape.

✅ You’re in a competitive market and need a trust advantage

In saturated niches like project management, SEO, and CRMs, rankings are often decided by trust signals. Forum mentions across Reddit, Quora, and niche communities add a layer of brand credibility that’s hard to fake.

✅ You want to appear more in LLM results and AI-powered search

Forum links don’t just boost traditional SEO; they boost your visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. LLMs are trained on these platforms. If your brand is missing from them, you’re missing out on modern search.

✅ You want links in discussions already ranking in Google

Many high-traffic forum threads rank on page 1 for buyer-intent keywords. Getting your brand mentioned inside them gives you visibility and even leads without needing to outrank anyone.

Here’s how smart forum linking actually plays out:

In a Reddit thread where a store owner was asking for advice on shipping and fulfillment, we didn’t force a link or hijack the conversation. We added a real, helpful suggestion that matched what they needed—and naturally introduced Red Stag’s fulfillment services.

The result? A credible, value-driven brand mention inside a thread that’s already trusted and indexed by Google. That’s how you turn forum backlinks into actual SEO assets.

Choose guest blogging when:

✅ You want to pass PageRank to a target page

Need a specific page to climb in rankings? Guest posts still do the heavy lifting.
They carry the weight, especially when placed on high-DR, topically relevant blogs.

✅ You have a long-form content strategy

If your SEO plan is built around comprehensive guides, comparison posts, or resource hubs, guest posts are the perfect complement. They help build thematic relevance and authority at scale.

✅ You want more control over anchor text and messaging

Forum links are organic as you respond to what’s already being discussed.
Guest blogging puts you in the driver’s seat. You control the narrative, the keywords, and the links.

Pro tip: You don’t have to choose.

Most of our clients at Growth Partners Media use both.

• Guest posts build the foundation. They bring the ranking power.
• Herd Links reinforces it by hitting the indirect ranking signals and diversifying your link profile so everything looks as “organic” as possible.

Getting backlinks for your brand is all about making it look as natural as possible. It’s about finding that fine line between active promotion and SEO manipulation.

How to Combine Both for Maximum SEO Impact

Guest posts and forum backlinks aren’t rivals, they’re your SEO dream team.

Here’s how to layer them for serious SEO power:

Start with guest posts. These high-authority placements build your foundation. Use them to pass ranking power to key pages like your homepage, landing pages, or pillar blog content.

Then layer in forum backlinks. These act like digital word-of-mouth, boosting your brand’s presence in niche communities. Use them to diversify your link profile and point to long-tail content or deeper pages that wouldn’t normally attract high-authority links.

This works because guest posts give you that solid, editorial authority Google loves. Forum links, on the other hand, create buzz with dozens of real mentions scattered across the web that show you’re not just publishing content but actually being talked about.

Together, they build a backlink profile that’s not only powerful but also natural and resilient to algorithm updates.

Guest posts and forum backlinks aren’t enemies, they’re the SEO power couple you didn’t know you needed. One boosts rank, the other builds trust.

Final Thoughts: What’s the Verdict?

It’s not a question of guest posts vs. forum backlinks. It’s guest posts and forum backlinks. Each plays a distinct role in a well-rounded SEO strategy.

• Guest blogging gives you authoritative, high-trust links that boost your rankings where it matters most.
• Forum backlinks, on the other hand, tap into real conversations, helping you build topical relevance, brand presence, and diverse link signals that AI-powered search engines now pay closer attention to.

As Google continues to evolve, so should your link-building strategy. Forum links are more valuable than ever, and guest posts still pack a punch. Used together, they create a durable, balanced backlink profile that boosts visibility, builds trust, and keeps your rankings stable—even when the algorithm shifts.