WebGeek182

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to start a new conversation on this topic as there seems to be some huge misconceptions that link exchanges are a GOOD idea. I want to emphasize that it's an old technique that might have worked in 2000, but it doesn't in 2007. Search engines are wise to link exchange programs, automated link programs, link farms, and the like. (For example, Google has an entire team of people dedicate to spam-detection, as I'm sure Yahoo and MSN do.) Reciprocal links between two sites are not counted as highly as one-way links. Not to say that two quality sites with similar themes are never going to link to each other. It's just that it shouldn't be your linkbuilding strategy. The best way to get link juice in the search engines is to spend time first creating quality content, and second getting links from quality sites.

Quick and lazy schemes are increasingly worthless, so avoid them. Here's a good rule of thumb, if it's super-easy and super-fast, avoid it. Period.

I've put together some linkbuilding resources for everyone here who wants to build legitimate links. This is by no means a complete list, and I'm happy to add to it. I just wanted to get you started. Feel free to share your thoughts and input on this topic, even if you disagree with me. After all this is a conversation.

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midlandi

My own thought are that you are correct, things have changed, one way links are the best to have now.
This takes time and effort,the easy way has gone.
The old link farms were great in there day.Now links are better to related sites.

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WebGeek182

Thanks for your input, midlandi. Yes, unfortunately, the easy days are over.

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Jax

Natural links seem to be the way forward to me.

Looks like google etc is now putting a great deal more inportance on the relationship of the links i.e car links on a car site etc not car links on a gardening site. Seems to me they are slowing things down to prevent fast link building via purchasing.

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WebGeek182

Yes, Jax. You are correct. There are some cases where reciprocal links are good, as long as it's not most of your inbound links. See this article on good reciprocal linking.

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beglobal

Well first of all:
Link building is aprt of SEO(Search Engine Optimization)
Link exchange is part of link building
and SEO is part of SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
In conclusion:
SEM - SEO - Link Building - Link Exchange

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Katey

Hi there,

Link exchanges I am not a fan of at all. That's why I have never joined one top site before. I think a lot of search engines frown upon link exchanges since they don't seem natural.

One way linking is better as you get all the link juice for 1 (as long as it isn't a directory or something), and Google sees it as a natural link.

Maybe Google should start a web linking standard like W3C set the standards for web compliance, and see whether it works. This would take their competition away, since all the Google followers would use these standards, other search engines would have to change their algorithm...just a thought.


Regards,
Kieran Taylor.

Bagi Zoltán

WeebGeek, you hit the nail on the head concerning this link building thing. Your post was really quality but now i can't rep you, i must spread some before that you know.

As i see i voted on the correct answer;D

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eprosumer

Are you all saying that you cannot get a PR of 4 using automated link exchange?

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WebGeek182

You may be able to GET a PR 4, but you won't be able to KEEP it. Search Engines are getting better all the time about detecting automated link networks. There is a high probability of getting your site banned or at teh minimum, penalized, for using an automated system.

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hasan_889

Can anyone clear me one thing ... if any site offer reciprocal link approval in 1 week and regular link approval in 3/4 weeks ... which one I should go for?

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tivoli

Link Exchanges got my vote

WebGeek182

Ok, so....why? Share your positive experiences over the long-term.

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roksolana

Everybody tells the one way link is better..so if you don't hurry, shoose a regular link.

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precismarketing

You might be right if you've got a crappy web site. You have to resort to link-building. But if your web site's any good and has content of any value on it then you'll get way better results with a genuine link exchange programme.

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