Is forum signatures are considered a backlink?

[forumguy]

I have seen many people at various places selling signature links at various forums and i am curious to know whether indeed that forum signatures have the option of getting back links for google rankings? or those links are only no-follow links?

[matik]

They are helpful in getting some backlinks and most of forums are without nofollow.
It's not all about google rankings, traffic also counts.

[ephouse]

Though backlinks brings you PR on SEs it may not help you to increase traffic. To a particular keyword the site should appear on first or second page on SEs - thats always a tough job.
So no harm if you are building links by posting on dofollow forums/blogs - it will fetch you backlinks.

[virtuoso]

Forum posting has two advantages, you can build back links through this and it also drives traffic to your site

[jamie]

I agree to you virtuoso, it is like hitting two birds in one stone