Regarding more exposure for a site and moving up on the search engines, posting on related forum sites is a good and safe way to get links. Most search engines give priority to sites which are "respected" - meaning in terms of content quality and well linked by other sites. AF has the right idea.
It is very important that the links to a site should be related in terms of content/emphasis. One should never pay a company to create links for one's site. Such companies pay individuals to post links wherever/whenever they can, regardless of context - hence the irritating spam posts. The search engines (especially Google) penalise sites with such irrelevant or false links.
I think you are doing just fine for a new site, Catherine. Posting on other animal forums (= "related sites") which allow a link in signature would gain even more ground. That reminds me, when I review my "further reading" page on my site I must include links to this forum and to MPOP!
It is very important that the links to a site should be related in terms of content/emphasis. One should never pay a company to create links for one's site. Such companies pay individuals to post links wherever/whenever they can, regardless of context - hence the irritating spam posts. The search engines (especially Google) penalise sites with such irrelevant or false links.
I think you are doing just fine for a new site, Catherine. Posting on other animal forums (= "related sites") which allow a link in signature would gain even more ground. That reminds me, when I review my "further reading" page on my site I must include links to this forum and to MPOP!