Hi, I am new to SEO and I am trying to find out which is better. Adding links in relevant forums in the signature section of adding ones website in links directories.

Which weights more.

Thanks.

For forums signature is good for back links. But the directory submission is also good for traffic.

I don't see any difference at all, both are back links and all depends on what is the content of the directory page or forum post and other factors to see if it is relevant to the links. Other than that, everything should be equal

I prefer forum links though both are backlinks . Apart from backlinks, forum link is a good way of advertisement.

they both play an important role in building up backlinks...

For me they are both important. But for me as of now I choose links in forums, for I always participate in forums than submitting my site in free directories.

If you want some traffic also then forum link is the best option. But directory links are more valuable than forum links.

uhmm.. why are directory links more valuable than forum links? can anyone shed light on this please? thanks in advance..

They aren't,

Both are pretty much equally useless for "SEO"

I agree because bacause the 2 are the same in terms of SEO but different in the way you use them

Forums signature is good for back links and directory submission is good for traffic.

so in the end should have both

it's extremely simple;

Links are advertising NOT optimising

Both of them i guess

Links are advertising NOT optimising

I second that thought.

Directory links give you relevent traffic ( since visitors are browsing sites in the specific category in which they are interested in).

Forum links are just advertising links.

Directory links are also normally categorized, so your link there will help to "theme" to some degree. Being grouped with other sites in the same vertical is never a bad idea.

I think both are same

I guess, Forum Sign. Links are the Best for traffic and back links.

because if you are working in Top quality Forums so you can get good traffics as well backlinks from Forum.

Many Directory sites has changed the structure of submissions so there is less chances to get backlinks from free and quality directories.


Thanks
Paul

I would prefer a directory submission because when the dir increases in rankings so does your site

Links in the forums.. But keep in mind that "don't just post for you to drop links" post because you want to contribute something good and informative. links in directories is also good, but some free directories nowadays has been moderated and it takes how many weeks before your site gets included in their site, but still depends if your site passed the quality that they've been looking for.