Link Exchange Waste of time

[Andy]

Now I'm getting many link exchange requests from people using systems that tell me that they added a link for a limited time to their link exchange system and I need to reciprocate the link to keep it live.

Well, they are targeting me since they have no page rank or visitors and they have identified my site as a potential valuable link exchange prospect. They add my URL in a link farm page that lists my site amongst many others and this page has no visitors or page rank and they expect me to link back to them. Well I'm sorry, but I won't be doing that. I'm very happy for them to link to me since inbound links are part of search engine ranking algorithms and if I link to them I will give away my valuable search engine ranking value.

I often link to external sites, but only as a way to show my visitors more useful information. This is the way the web works. So don't link to anybody unless the site provides additional relevant information to your visitors.

[treatle]

Hmmm, that's a very strong statement. I'm not sure it would work that way.

[Andy]

What I mean is that I am not keen to link back to link farms. I have noticed more and more sites look like a big bunch of links and not much else. At least the one's that want to exchange links with me.

[Hope]

Andy, I get the same emails. These sites are using a linking software. They are link farms and can cause problems for you if there are too many linking to your site. I have often requested that my site be removed from such link farms.

I refuse to link to anyone who participates in these programs. I will link to valuable sites only. This means a site that will provide information that I do not provide.

[dojo]

I've linked back to few sites. I don't ask for links in others sites and I think I'm able to promote myself because of the quality and hard work, not schemes. Some people asked for a link exchange and after seeing their sites were quality and similar to mine I've agreed. Got some visitors from them and I think they're ok since they come from a similar site.

[Gary Golden]

I don't now who you are linking to but exchanges are far from a waste of time, quality links not only provide site traffic but help your PR, I emphasize quality links!! 

Linking to sites with P0 and low ranking on search engines are a waste of time, I agree!  We have put in our time for the first couple of years where no one wanted to link with us, so must new sites.   I usually only link with new sites if I now them personally and they have an advertising budget, otherwise no link.

[quote-engine]

Hi

Running a shopping directory I get lots of requests and some of the requestors sites are shocking    - if I am going to link to a new site with little or no google pr I insist they display more than one link back to me... the site has to have potential and be relevant to my visitors. I have built up good PR values across the whole of my site and I try and get linkbacks from pages of same or better google pr.

I think the key is be selective, keep relevant. Make sure the linkback is text and keyworded too

Phil

[SensoVision]

I think the key is be selective, keep relevant. Make sure the linkback is text and keyworded too

totally agree on this, Phil. I had same point of view on link exchange.

[Andy]

I sometimes mess up my linking code (a classic is missing off http://) and it doesn't seem to harm my PR with Google so I guess unless you have an obvious link farm page. You should be OK with whoever you link with.  Ah, but Google do say "avoid linking to bad neighbourhoods" somewhere in their guidelines. Search engines don't automatically list all your pages from your home page so these extra links may get the bots finding your inner pages.