2 replies to this topic

[Elgep]

Hi Folks,

I've never run a reciprocal link campaign. The low ROI just didn't seem worth it. Since I work with service based businesses, focusing on good content has been a much better investment. (My motto: It doesn't matter how many people you drive to your site if you don't have the answer they're looking for.)

But at least once a week, a client will forward a reciprocal link request to me asking if they should do it. I caution them against it because of the implied endorsement. (Another motto: If you wouldn't link to them because you like them, don't do it for rankings.)

But if a client likes the business owner or website requesting a reciprocal link, should they do it? Will a handful of reciprocal links help my client’s rankings at all? At the least, this will require creating a new section on their resources page and incur a web development cost of a hundred bucks or so. Is it worth it?

Thanks,

Elge

[qwerty]

For the most part, they're not even worth reading. Most of mine get snagged by the spam filter, and of the few that make it through, I might read 1 of 10. Of those, probably about 80% are those boilerplate messages written by software, and they get deleted immediately after I see that (which takes less than a sentence). Of what's left, I might read them, but probably only about 10% of those will actually indicate some degree of relevance to the site they want to trade links with.

So that's probably well under 1% -- not very attractive.

On the other hand, you can do careful research, looking for complementary sites that your client's customers would be genuinely interested in, write to the webmaster explaining what a great pair the two sites make, and expect maybe 1% of the emails you send out will get read. Yippee.

You're better off looking for tips someplace like Debra's blog, The Link Spiel, because the old standard operating procedure just doesn't cut it these days.

[nethy]

I seem to get not very many requests.
But, just this minute though I answered one (positively)

I would say about 25% are ok, I link them. Some are directories, I don't link. I don't seemto get get any random ones just basically different sites withing the broad topic area.

For the most part though relevence to users is minimal, either way. Even if they are researching birds what are the chances they want The canadian eagle watching club's link, unless I am writing an article about specifically that at the time. IMO the chances af a link being highly relevant when it is requested or exchanged is not huge.