In an article about zero cost marketing, I wrote about the strategy of leaving 'footprints' throughout the web that point back to your site.

The most common method of leaving footprints is to post messages on discussion forums, and include a link back to your site as part of your signature on the post.

Doing this is an acceptable, non spamming way of helping people become aware of your site.

But there is a downside.

If you leave footprints and your own site is less search engine optimized than the site where you left the footprints, it can mean that people who search for your site might find your footprints on those other sites before they find your own site.

The moral - if you leave footprints (especially on highly search engine optimized sites like those powered by MemberGate), be sure that you have fully search engine optimized your own site first.

Else the search engines might not give you top ranking - even for your own site name.

Find my article about leaving footprints at Zero Cost Marketing: Leaving Footprints