14 replies to this topic

[blakemiller]

I manage a handful of websites and maintian some basic/mid-level SEO for some of them. Some of them do pretty good in SE's and lots of decent PR amonsget the sites/pages. Because of this, I get Link requests from alot of outside websites - usually SEO's hunting us down.

Many times, their site is relevant and I would be willing to exchange links with them as they appear that they could be a good long term partner. They ask me to exchange, I confirm back, but then they come back saying that our link will be placed on a 3rd party site, sometimes NOTHING to do with the topic. Some have been obvious link farms, or even offers to buy (for really cheap) a great link back.

They are getting a direct, text link from a highly relevant site to them, but then offering me virtually a link-farmed, unrelated and sometimes PR0 (but sometimes PR4 or 5) link back.

Should I exchange?

I have searched alot, but can't find anything speicific on whether a link should be exchanged under this scenario. At least half of the requests i get (a dozen or two per month) fall into this category so was hoping the topic would be more prevelant (since all these SEO's are doing it) but i can't find anything this specific.

[Randy]

I can only tell you that I wouldn't.

Such linking schemes are exactly that, a scheme. One meant for the search engines and not real users.

What makes it worse from your description is that the link mongers are attempting to change the offer after the fact. I'd ixnay the deal, remove the link from my site and tell them why I was doing it. (Because of their stupidity. ) Me being me, I'd probably also CC the actual site owner so that they get a heads up on what their link builder is doing.

It sounds like you're doing it right, linking to sites only if they're going to be of interest to and provide value to your real users. I would encourage you to stick to yoru guns with this concept and reject anyone who doesn't. They'll either come around or they won't. But either way you'll still be doing the best by your users.

[randyray]

These new "three way link" exchanges annoy me in a big way. No, you shouldn't link to someone engaged in this practice.

[Jill]

You'd be much better off using a trapezoidal linking matriflux

[blakemiller]

You'd be much better off using a trapezoidal linking matriflux

Now that sounds much better. Next link exchange request that comes in, i'm going to only exchange if they'll participate in that one

[Jill]

There you go then!

[weblink]

I manage a handful of websites and maintian some basic/mid-level SEO for some of them. Some of them do pretty good in SE's and lots of decent PR amonsget the sites/pages. Because of this, I get Link requests from alot of outside websites - usually SEO's hunting us down.

Many times, their site is relevant and I would be willing to exchange links with them as they appear that they could be a good long term partner. They ask me to exchange, I confirm back, but then they come back saying that our link will be placed on a 3rd party site, sometimes NOTHING to do with the topic. Some have been obvious link farms, or even offers to buy (for really cheap) a great link back.

They are getting a direct, text link from a highly relevant site to them, but then offering me virtually a link-farmed, unrelated and sometimes PR0 (but sometimes PR4 or 5) link back.

Should I exchange?

I have searched alot, but can't find anything speicific on whether a link should be exchanged under this scenario. At least half of the requests i get (a dozen or two per month) fall into this category so was hoping the topic would be more prevelant (since all these SEO's are doing it) but i can't find anything this specific.

What about exchange links with a PR1 or PR2 ? Ofcourse it depends on the content, visitors and so on. Many site owners have forgotten one important thing. We all started with PR0.

"Be friendly to everybody, cause you dont know when he/she will be your boss"

[Mitchelle Johnson]

According to me, Three way linking is not bad if you are given link from a relevant and good pr website.... Link from any irrelevant or link farming website is not good...

[bigtunafan]

Hello All!

This topic is of great interest to me. Just recently a major site within my niche approached me wanting to do some partnership. They wanted to place links on my site pointing to theirs. In exchange I wanted my site to be placed in their directory (PR5) and on the first page (has about 20+ pages with 20 links per page). We negoiated for a week or two and finally came back to me and said they would place me in their directory at position #6. Here is the kicker, I was told it would be an indirect link. I immediately asked what does that mean and couldn't get an answer. I then googled and couldn't find an answer. I emailed webmasters at other sites and they couldn't give me an answer.

The end result is I accepted and when I visit their directory I am at #6 and I am getting traffic. However, what is an indirect link and will it improve my PR?

[Jill]

However, what is an indirect link and will it improve my PR?

No way to know without more info on what exactly they mean by "indirect link."

What's it look like when you view the source code of the page?

[oneofthe3lions]

As Jill says, need more info really. They could mean that they will put a no follow tag on it for some reason or what they probably mean is a redirect script.

[bigtunafan]

The person I was dealing with said it would not be a "no follow tag" and he himself didn't know what an "indirect link" was. Anyway here the code:

<div class="top">
<h3>6. <a href="/content/learn-to-win-holdem_a5" target="_blank" onclick="return clt(this,1,'learn-to-win-holdem');">Learn to Win Holdem</a></h3>
<p>
<img src="/images/icon_new-new.gif" alt="New" />

<img src="/images/icon_top-pick.gif" alt="Top Pick" />
</p>
</div>
<div class="wide-review">
<p>Have you ever considered a poker coach? As you are aware, every
professional athlete has a "go to person." Regardless of the sport, each
has a trainer or coach to maintain their discipline and continually perfect
their strategy. Our Hold'em Coaching program is personally designed around
your style and level of play to maximize your skills and investment in the
game.</p>
</div>
<p class="bottom"><a href="/content/learn-to-win-holdem_a5" target="_blank" onclick="return clt(this,1,'learn-to-win-holdem');">http://www.learntowinholdem.com </a></p>
</div>

Thank you so much for your help in advance.

James Rice

[torka]

Looks to me as though it's going through some kind of jump script. Meaning that the link doesn't point directly to your page, but goes through a script (possibly for them to track clickthroughs?) first... meaning you don't get any link popularity benefit from it. But if you're getting real live traffic from the link, it's a good one to have, so I wouldn't worry so much about the link pop, personally.

--Torka

[kceleb9]

You should not link with sites like this. They are not good partners at all...

[torka]

If they send me paying customers, why not? What do I care about "link popularity" when a link helps me earn more revenue? Can't pay the bills with "link pop" or "PR" but I sure can with more sales.

If the link sends me customers, that's a good link in my book.

--Torka