[Fuzquia]

I have read that links are a major part of SEO, therefore I am trying to build up a links page on my own site.

I used a backlink checker to look at some of the links of my competitors, now this tool came up with nearly 300 links for the competitors pages. However, when I actually o to the links page of their site there is no where near this. I clicked on some of the links listed in the backlink checker and some of them are simply a mention of the company name n forums etc.

So does this mean that if I put my website name in my signature of any forum I am part of, this counts as a link?

This is my first website so not really sure, so thanks to those who offer advice...