Here's the process for forums along with the most valuable list of Do Follow Forums on the internet:

1) Sign up to each forum and create a good profile.

-Make sure you have a good picture that draws attention.
-Post the link to your website in your profile.
-Answer every question they have with a good answer.

If you have a good profile, then you are more likely to get extra traffic and not get banned. If you get banned, then all your work is lost.

2) Create a signature with your keyword string going to the optimized page.

-Whatever keyword string you are focusing on should be the same on every single forum.
-Use a keyword string that is also clickable so that you can get traffic from clicks while you are optimizing.
-Write a slogan under your keyword string that pulls clicks.

3) Make posts that will get replies

-Everytime your post gets a reply it is pushed to the top of the page with the highest PR.
-Ask questions that anyone can answer.
-Rank all of the existing discussions by total replies to identify the best topics to post on.