FFA links - yea or nay?

Is the link pop worth it?

[Drastic]

first post - Thanks to admin, moderators and members for a great SE resource!

I used ffa links in the past to get more visitors, and they ended up helping with link pop - I had some good listings with google for a few weeks. When checking other sites linking to me, I found many of the ffa pages.

I stopped using them, due to info I read here and at other forums. Since the google shuffle, I am getting very few referrals from google and goohoo - they are falling every day.

I am tempted to use the ffa links again. I can get thousands of links with very little effort. I need to get back to where I was with traffic.

Would this be the wrong move? I feel I would get good short term results from google, but will this hurt me more in the long run with the other engines? I don't have many good listings with any other SEs. (I am currently going over my site, trying to re-opt and re-sub shortly - any help here also greatly appreciated.)

Checking my site at SEW webpage rep calculator against other sites, many of the keywords are similar, such as "links." I know this queries AV, but should be similar theming with other SEs, I am thinking.

If this type of theming isn't hurting other similar, high-ranking sites, why shouldn't I do it?

Thanks a bunch for any comments/suggestions.

[Brett_Tabke]

Welcome to the forums and thank you for the kind comments.

Depends on how valuable the domina is? Is it a 'throw away domain' or something you've put real bsw (blood sweat tears) into? It also depends on your definition of FFA? I assume you are talking the true free for all style setups? Nothing reciprocal right?

I'd shy away from them if the domain name is valuable. If the choice were between FFA links and a links program - go for the good links program.

[Drastic]

Thanks for your prompt reply and help, Brett.

The domain is the one listed in my profile. (not sure if it's appropriate to list in this post) How valuable? I have no idea, what do you think? I have put a lot of work into the site, but most of the work was learning the various ins and outs of webmastering. The site is a good (right now only) source of revenue, but I don't see why I couldn't change the domain and affected text if I needed to. I do have an ezine attached, but it only has 120 or so subs right now, I haven't been running it (the ezine) for long.

The FFAs I am talking about are at ffanet. They are all hosted on ffanet's domain as separate pages, free to all who register a valid email addy, and are not reciprocal.

What do you suggest considering these factors?

Thanks again,
Ken

[Brett_Tabke]

I'd think that domain name is worth keeping clean a clean se record on Ken. However, as I'm sure you know, Freebie oriented sites have slowly been lumped into the 'spammers first' guilt by association bin by the se's. They see all the affiliate links and assume the worst first.

[Drastic]

Thanks Brett, I will take your advice and stay away from the FFAs.

Maybe I can make up the difference on my next round of submissions.

I appreciate your help! :)