Adding Text Links A Bad Idea?

[jdh226]

My site just became a PR7 (from a PR6) and I've been offered money to add a handful of text links to each page on my site (links are ads and will likley not be relevant to my content). Are there any defined risks in doing so? Is this likely to have a negative effect on my PR moving forward? Is it likely to hurt my keyword rankings? If some of the links are low PRs, will this hurt my ranking? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[bufferzone]

You need to be careful when the outgoing links are not within your content. Read this post carefully, I think it’ll help you in your decision.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[jdh226]

Thanks for the link. Interesting thread. While I don't think my question was directly answered in that thread, it seems as though linking from my PR7 to unrelated PR1s and PR2s will certainly not help me -- and could very well hurt me in the long run. Sound accurate?

[bufferzone]

As I se it right on the mark. If the money is good (very good) I would consider it, If not, forget it

[jdh226]

Long week. Not to mention that half of that thread is Greek to me. Thanks for the insight.

[glengara]

You're obviously tempted, but I'd wait to find someone on-topic.
Not only would you be worth more to them, but you'd have a better chance of passing under the radar....

[bufferzone]

With a PR 7 site, you might even go hunting for on topic sites and companies. The fact that other sites have offered you money could be used as a sales argument when you find on topic sites. If you don’t overdo it, it could even help your ranking according to Brett and the link above

[jdh226]

IMO, that's *the* idea. Problem is finding advertisers in my niche who don't compete and who understand the value of high PR backlinks. It's a tough one. As for the off-topic links, I'll wait until after the next update. Thanks again for the insight. snipped

[edited by: DaveAtIFG at 11:35 pm (utc) on April 8, 2004]
[edit reason] Removed off topic comments [/edit]

[cicru]

I would try Buy Sell Links , I have managed to sell some links through them and got some buyers with related content. (Although at times the definition of related get stretched)

[brucec]

jdh226, whjat is your exact topic or product? it occurs to me that you can exchange links with web sites that compliment your business and not directly compete with them.

For example, I work for a gemtleman who sells vacuum cleaners and I handle all the web development and promotion.

We link to web sites of stores that service the floor in some way: carpeting, contractors, maid services, etc.

It does not hurt to exchange links with a competitor or two. Doing so makes you both higher in the search engines and you will both be higher than the other 1,000 that you don't link to. I know this sounds weird, but I believe one or two competitors exchanging links can't really hurt. Just make your web site better than their's. LOL

[jdh226]

We sell mattresses and pillows. I've set up a "Popular Links / Home Resource" page for those with whom I've traded links. However, I'm beginning to think that I can provide even more value by finding sites who will pay to link to my home page (PR7).