5 replies to this topic

[stevefeasey]

If I go down the reciprocal link route (any feedback on this would be welcome).
Do the recips have to be 'seen' on my site?
I see lots of sites that allegedly link to others but there is no sign of these links anywhere on their site.

Am I just being dense (it would not be the first time!!!!)?

Cheers

[microbe]

There are two types of reciprocal links.

The first is where you think that someone has a great site/page which will interest your visitors. You put in a link in a relevant place and the person you have linked to thinks that your site is great too and puts in a link back to you.

Then there is link spam. In this case you are just trying to con search engines that your site is more important/better/useful/worthwhile than it really is so you get into a link swap scam with other people. In this case the last thing you want is for real people to see the links and follow them off your site. So you will do your best to hide them or better yet you will invite someone to do a link swap, get them to link to you and not bother with putting in the link to them.

[stevefeasey]

Thanks Microbe,

I understand both link types, but still do not fully understand how you 'hide' the links back to other sites.

Advice seems to be NOT to have a links page, as Google may see this as a link farm,BUT if you want swap links with relevant partner sites but do not want your site looking like a dog's dinner what do you do?

[Jill]

Do the recips have to be 'seen' on my site?

Yes, all links need to be "seen" on your site, unless you would like to spam the search engines. In which case, hidden links will do the trick!

[storkbiz]

Advice seems to be NOT to have a links page, as Google may see this as a link farm

I don't think having a links page is the same as a link farm. A link farm is a site that will link to everybody, and ANYBODY, regardless of content.

If you are going to have a links page, make them relevant links. For example, if you sell outdoor grills (BBQ's), you would want to exchange links with BBQ recipe sites, sites that sell BBQ tools, sites about designing an outdoor kitchen, sites that sell marguerite mix, etc. You wouldn't want to exchange links with a lingerie site, or a site offering QuickBooks classes, or a site offering cell phone ringer downloads.

[digitalplatypus]

stevefeasey,
If you want to engage in reciprocal linking to add valuable options for your visitors, go right ahead. If you just want a bunch of reciprocal links while offering nothing in return, please don't start reciprocal linking. The Internet doesn't need yet another person plotting how to take advantage of others.

There are other ways to get incoming links. If you're really uncomfortable with reciprocal linking, don't do it. Investigate other options, such as buying advertising on other sites or syndicating articles, or [url=http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?showforum=21]Submitting to Directories[/url]. Don't feel that you HAVE to reciprocate links just because it seems that everybody else is.