18 replies to this topic

[Karri]

Hi all,
I was just reading one of the "pinned" articles about beginning a reciprocal linking campaign and would like some insights.

Personally, I have always felt wary of the idea of reciprocal links. For some reason, and especially for the type of business I am in, I feel that a "links" page seems a bit ... well ... dare I say tacky? On the other hand, I believe in the power of building USEFUL websites! My visitors may actually appreciate this kind of page if it was done tastefully.

If I start a "campaign" then to build reciprocal links, would it still help my site if I put such a page in the second tier of my navigation scheme instead? ie. I wouldn't put a "links" or "resources" button on my main navigation bar, but perhaps link to such a page from within another top level page ... even from my home page ... ???

I have already spent a great deal of time submitting my site to non-reciprocal venues (mainly directories) and continue to work on this a little bit each day. But I feel that I am beginning to exhaust my resources and would like to find other avenues (yep, I already write and submit articles too).

Thoughts?
Thanks in advance,
Karri

[RyanBlank]

a link on the homepage and homepage only should be just fine. there is no need to have it on your main navigation if you don't want it there. however, if you are trying to build a resource that is actually very useful to visitors it may make sense to do so.

just keep in mind that potential link partners will probably want to be able to navigate to their link from the home page.. so putting this link on something like a sitemap only or interior pages might not be suitable.

[Jill]

You can certainly do that, but the value to your link partners will be less, and they may be less apt to want to exchange links with you.

Really, if you don't feel comfortable exchanging links (and I don't blame you if you don't) then just don't do it. It's not a necessary evil or anything. Lots of ways to skin the link building cat.

[torka]

You know, there's no rule that links have to be put on "links" pages.

Let's say that you and a friend supply related, but different, services. People who are visitors to your site might be interested in the types of service that your friend offers, and visitors to her site might be interested in services that you offer.

On the page(s) about your related service(s), you could mention to your visitors that if they're looking for "XYZ" service, then they should visit www.friends-site.com, and link directly to the page on your friend's site that describes that service.

The friend could do the same for you.

Lather, rinse, repeat. The idea is to find related but non-competing sites who offer complimentary products or services to your own. Evaluate 'em on the basis of the targeted traffic they could potentially bring you, and consider the SEO benefit to be a bonus.

End result: reciprocal links, benefitting both sites, useful to the visitors of both sites, and not a tacky "links page" in sight.

My

--Torka

[Maverick4two]

I have some recip links but I only add them if they contribute to the page and are extremely relevant, something I think is useful to the viewer. I don't think that is tacky. I think that is useful and what the net is about. I also don't add them for the purposes of link building. I add them for relevant incoming traffic. I get vast amounts of targeted traffic that way, in fact 99% of my audience now arrives this way. However I ensure that I get a good link in terms of page and position, being buried on a websites links page I see almost as a total waste of time.

If you add something on a second tier that was a related "resource" for your viewers (but not direct competition) then that would contribute something and potentially increase your keyword density.

Actually I have just thought this makes me perhaps sound like an expert, which I am not. The above is just my humble opinion and personal experience.

One thing about recip links is some people cheat, one thing to watch out for is a "no follow" tag there are a bunch of other ways to cheat but I am not knowledgable enough to venture an explain.

[Michael Martinez]

Although I don't advocate reciprocal linking, I feel that if you're going to do it, you want to be creative about it. Let's say you exchange links with customers and vendors. Why put them all on the same page? You can write a little bit of content about each one, explaining why you chose that vendor, or how that customer benefits from your service.

You're providing useful information to your visitors about your company, and the fact you have exchange links doesn't have to come into consideration.

[Karri]

It would be interesting to see how some of the experienced SEOs on this forum approach requesting "non" reciprocal incoming links ... just for the benefit of us newer members.

Of course, I am not talking about directories, but the process of requesting (say, in writing) an incoming link from a site without offering anything but your beloved presence on their site in return. (I'm not being facetious, just really curious how the pros do it!!).

Just a thought

Karri

[qwerty]

If we're not talking about directories or niche portals, I won't request a non-reciprocal link unless the site I'm promoting offers some specific thing that I can point to as a reason to link to it -- a tool, a white paper, a case study, something like that.

If a client tells me they want non-reciprocal links and they don't have something like that, I tell them that unless they're willing to offer money, goods, or services in exchange for the link, they'd better create something worth linking to.

I'm no miracle worker. If you don't find something interesting enough to link to it, my asking you to isn't going to change that.

[Jill]

Of course, I am not talking about directories, but the process of requesting (say, in writing) an incoming link from a site without offering anything but your beloved presence on their site in return.

I don't know anyone who would do that.

If you have nothing to offer but your beloved presence, good luck to you.

You need an incentive if you're going to come right out and ask.

The real trick is in the not ever having to ask. That's really the only way to get absolutely "free" links.

[Scottie]

I've done it quite a bit and been successful. But I've asked sites that recommend resources to add a link to a useful resource. I can't imagine just asking someone to link to a commercial site with no reason for them to do it.

If it doesn't offer some value to the other site... why would they bother to even read your request?

[Karri]

I've done it quite a bit and been successful.  But I've asked sites that recommend resources to add a link to a useful resource.  I can't imagine just asking someone to link to a commercial site with no reason for them to do it.

If it doesn't offer some value to the other site... why would they bother to even read your request?

That makes total sense to me. That good old common sense thing again! Although, sites that recommend resources are often (not always) directories or portals of some kind. I have seen some commercial sites that do recommend other resources or "partners," but they don't seem all that common.

Thanks for the info Scottie.

Karri

[Scottie]

Common sense again! You know more than you realize.

[Michael Martinez]

I get requests for non-reciprocal links all the time. Most of them are never honored. Some, I think about. Here is one I got today (heavily edited, to keep the site unidentifiable).

What do 50 XXXXXX from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, Greece, South Africa and Australia have in common? They have contributed their real life experiences in XXXXX fandom to BOOK TITLE GOES HERE.

The much-anticipated collection of XXXXXX fans true stories will be released on RELEASE DATE. Experience the heart-felt tales in BOOK TITLE and see how SOME...THING still has the power to change lives, SOME PROMOTIONAL COPY INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL WORK.

I've always wanted a real reason to say "SOME...THING" (from the movie "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"). "Bones, there's a...THING out there." "Why is it that every time we run into something we don't understand we have to call it a THING?"

Anyway, this is a legitimate non-reciprocating link request in line with qwerty and Scottie's suggestion.

Problem is, it's a little TOO self-promotional, as it is only announcing a book. Would it be of interest to my community? I don't know. They didn't offer me a copy to review (and I've been asked to review books but, dang it, just don't have the time to do it).

I probably won't offer the link, but if the book is sold through Amazon I may add an affiliate link somewhere. If I think about it.

I'm more likely to post links to charitable events, events organized by third parties, and such forth. I did just put up a link for a "Lion Party" in Houston (a movie line party for "Narnia"). I'll be there, schedule permitting, and it's an opportunity for some fun. So what if Disney makes a few bucks and I don't?

But I'll also promote friends' Web sites and events. Fortunately, such promotions are rare, but anyone with a business site looking for links, if they have friends with Web sites, they absolutely should be asking for those free links!

[Jill]

But see now Michael, if that book person was smart, they would have offered to send you a free copy.

Incentive.

[Michael Martinez]

You're right, Jill, although in my case it would likely not be incentive enough if only for my lack of time. But providing that incentive is key to successfully getting large, active sites like mine to provide those one-way promotional links.

We do provide them, we provide them gladly, but they have to be legitimately useful to our visitors or there needs to be some sort of compensation (I've given links away just so I could get some promotional merchandise, I think).

Just because I do it doesn't mean I'm not selective, though. I'd prefer NOT to be inundated with requests. I usually initiate the one-way linking myself.

Cuts down on the marketing hype considerably.