Am I harming my site if I don't have a guest forum for ads?

One reason that sites require that you link back to them is because search engines "like" backlinks which are organic / relevant to the website. It helps topsites rank higher in search engines to have so many different related websites linking back to it, basically. So similar link exchanges would benefit your website. They aren't at all necessary to have a successful website but if you aren't getting your "juice" from something like that, you want to make sure you're getting it elsewhere

 

In short: Yes. I have never looked at affiliate buttons and I honestly think they're an eyesore. But that's just my opinion.

 

Yeah, we've never been into affiliation beyond that with directory sites. I honestly don't think they're a particularly useful form of advertising or promotion, personally.

That said, backlinks do still have a role to play in SEO so you do get that benefit.

 

I hate them. They are a way to gain a significant amount of exposure, but I hate them. I don't have it on my current site, but I'm also aiming to keep that site fairly small, so ...

 

Obviously, advertising on other RPGs/letting other RPGS advertise on your site isn't the MOST effective way to bring in new members, but it can. I have had people join my site through an advertisement on another site. Now do I expect it to bring in tons of members? Nope, not at all. But do I want to risk missing out on those few members that would join through an ad? Nope, I don't.

I think it's important to use all available methods of advertisement. All it is is more traffic, more possibilities. Doing something, even doing it poorly, is better than not doing it at all.

 

Button collecting is not the life for us. I'll link directories and friends, but I do not want a mess of buttons bigger than my active playerbase to scrutinize each month.

 

My general logic with advertising is that it'll keep me working on my site and give me a bit of competition. Like, if I allow someone to advertise their own forum or whatnot, it'll give me an incentive to make sure my place is better.

As for whether allowing it or disallowing it is harmful, I think if your website is linked in lots of places, it might end up getting higher in search results. I think. So it does give you juice.

 

I personally think ads can do more harm than good, since people might post your ad on their site if you have their ad on yours. I've never thought it was a bad idea to have ads. However, I don't think you're necessarily harming your site not to have them, I don't think it's necessary, just a bonus. I would advise you to consider the ads though.