Forums and SEO benefit

[Somiibo]

Are forums a good investment for a website?

Obviously they act as a good way to boost awareness of your site provided that they are well kept. But what are the SEO benefits? If a forum is hosted on a sub domain will that benefit the main domain as well?

Seems like it could be an additional source of page views which equal revenue.

I used to use forumotion but it wasn't very progressive.

If anyone has experience with forums I would love a 2017 update for good forum hosting platforms to start with. Preferably free or very cheap.

 

[Michelle91]

What we observed is that forums are faster seen as backlinks. So your authority as a site grows.

 

[sanjanasingh17]

Forum is the best way to promote site and good backlinks.

 

[darulez]

is it 2009 again?

 

[aidenhera]

forums are good addons to affilate sites as they live their own life