SEO - Link Exchanges

There are a number of ways that you can use to increase your page rank and traffic. Each method has positive and negative aspects. One-way links have more value than reciprocal links but a combination is the best.

Reciprocal Links

It is the linking between two or more sites. There are many sites that will offer free link exchanges but this will lead to lower page ranking for your web site. Search engines don’t like mass link sites.

The basic rules for link exchanges are:

• Don’t just link back to a site because it has a high page rank. Search engines consider related themes and content as more important than page rank links. Unrelated links get very little attention. A site can rank high on Google but low on other search engines. Link to sites that your visitors will find useful and request links back to you.
• Be cautious of some unethical site link practices such as robot blocking. Some sites have a code that prevents linking back from the spiders. What appears as a link exchange is then a one-way link to that site and you don’t benefit at all. Before you place a reciprocal link to a site, check the source code. If it has nonindex, nonfollow avoid it. You should also check the robot.txt file to see if sites are listed in the file for sites not to follow.
• Don’t link to sites with hundred of links. Search engines will not consider your site and you will be penalized. Another reason is that if there are 50 sites linked, it means your site will have a very low vote. If a site has 10 or less links, you can link to it.
• Check to see how high your link is on the site. If it only appears at 9 then it isn’t that valuable at all.
• Make sure that you only link to sites that will still have a high value in the future.
• Reciprocal links to sites with bad reputations, poor content and unethical practices will harm your site’s ranking and name, so avoid those sites. If they are banned or blocked, you face the risk that you’re site may also be blocked.

Getting links from Directories

Inbound links from good directories carry a lot of weight. Get as many listings in directories as you can. Yahoo, DMOZ, and Ananzi are examples. Make sure you select the most relevant categories when you list. Make use of search engines to find directories.

Paid Linking

This is the process of purchasing links from web sites for the value the link offers. The same criteria as for reciprocal linking apply. It has become a very popular link strategy. When a visitor clicks on a certain item on the site, it will lead them straight to you. The link must be located on a good location such as the home page.

Link Software

There are a few link building software products that you can use to find related sites with high page rank and good content. These tools make link exchange easier and worth the try. Use search engines to find link exchange software. Check all your outbound links at least once a month to see whether they are still relevant and working.

Forum Links

You can build many inbound links by adding a forum signature that includes your name, short description of your site and a link back to your site. Use the signature whenever you post a comment on a forum. You can also use two or three of your own blogs with your signature on your short articles of 300 words.