Online Link Exchange Programs

Will Joining a Program help my rankings?

[brucec]

My boss said he used [online link exchange programs] a year ago before I was working for him. He does not recall the effect on our web site traffic.

Does anybody know if [online link exchange programs] improves SERP or is it a waste of web page real estate to use them?

[edited by: martinibuster at 4:19 pm (utc) on May 27, 2004]
[edit reason] removed specifics. [/edit]

[robotsdobetter]

I see no problem with link exchanges long as you trade with sites that have the same theme, but don't use automated link exchanges!

Check them out first, make sure they are not some type of link farm.

[brucec]

I see a lot of "link exchange" sites coming up that claim that they are not a link farm, but who knows if they are telling the truth.

So, what exactly is a link farm?

[bakedjake]

link farm

A bunch of people trading links for the express purpose of improving search engine positioning.

[robotsdobetter]

Not all link exchanges are like that!

[robotsdobetter]

Also look at how well designed sites that they allow are and Google sometimes catches these site and will give them a penalty, so search with free link exchange and/or link exchange to help you to find out if they have a red flag by Google.

[bakedjake]

robotsdobetter, don't know what you're expecting here. In my mind, there are two types of link exchanges:

1. The type that you intend people to click on.
2. The type expressely placed for a boost in the SERPs.

I'm not making an ethical judgement, as I don't believe in "ethics" as dictated by the search engines.

But let's call a spade, a spade, okay?

Link farms are globs of type 2 link exchanges. They are networks of sites specifically set up to bolster search rankings. I believe my definition above (while watered down) to be mostly correct. A search engine can drop you out of its index for any reason it wants to. There is a definite increase in risk by using type 2 link exchanges.

Bottom line: When you exchange off-topic links, you increase your risk of penalty or ban by SEs.

[bakedjake]

Food for thought: When's the last time you were browsing a site in a non-SEO capacity and said "Oh, I think I'll find out what's on this guy's 'links' page?"

[robotsdobetter]

I am talking about how some link exchanges are trying to help you get more traffic. All I was saying (As I said before) not all link exchanges are link farms.

[bakedjake]

Right, rdb (I'm shortening your name ;-)), but the original question was about

online link exchange programs

Which are, quite possibly, the biggest joke ever when looking to generate additional (targeted) traffic to your site. If I want to exchange links with someone for the purpose of driving traffic to my site, I will not:

1. Put a link on a page called "links", "partners", or anything else silly like that
2. Make it look like a link that was purposely placed (think about that)
3. Exchange links with someone else who will do one of the above

All online link exchange programs I know of commit one of the fatal errors above.

[robotsdobetter]

Right, rdb (I'm shortening your name ;-)

You can call me Matt. :)

[Advenlo]

I was about to ask the same question. Does anyone have any experience of a ban or penalty or is this theorizing?

[martinibuster]

Some of these link matchmakers have persuasive marketing. They promise on topic partners, SE friendly practices, etc. Makes people wonder where the line is that demarcates the "link matchmaker" and the link farm.

It can be confusing, but if you value your website, it's best to stay on the safe side than roll the dice and hope you win in the short run.

...or is this theorizing?

Eye witness. Not a theory.

[robotsdobetter]

I won't say what link exchanges (Because of TOS) that have a ban, but there are a lot of them out their.

<snip>

[edited by: martinibuster at 10:06 pm (utc) on May 27, 2004]
[edit reason] Too close to self-promo. Thanks. [/edit]