Forum Moderators: martinibuster
How can I refuse to reciprocate the link? Could you advise a polite way not to offend the linkers?
- Chad
One single line informing them that reciprocal links are not an option will save you all this consternation and also provide you with a clear conscience when you don't respond to this type of request.
Pendanticist.
<edit>Corrected spelling mistake</edit>
[edited by: pendanticist at 3:30 pm (utc) on Dec. 12, 2002]
I know I am probably being dense ... I just don't see the value. Please elaborate.
<edited for punctuation>
Sure, it's fine for the PR in a lot of cases. For example, someone who runs a graphics site generally requires links back in exchange for using them. Those wouldn't be on topic at all, but it's fine. It's a good way to build up in more than one way and a lot of people get started that way, but it may or may not be a good idea to link back.
With some I don't reply, most I do with an explanation of why I won't.
When a webmaster puts a link to my wesite, he also puts a description including my keywords. Yes, his site was off-theme before he put the description. However, after he added the desciption, his site is 1% on my theme. Anyway, I still do not want to link to the site that is only 1% on-theme but it's nice to have a link to me on that site.
p.s. thank you very much for posting your link reguest letter. It's great.
"One single line informing them that reciprocal links are not an option will save you all this consternation"
I do link to the sites that are on-theme. So reciprocal links are an option. But I do not give reciprocal links to any site that requests them.
Webmasters,
Don't you hate it when a webmaster does not reply your link request? I do. I believe that it's a good practice to reply all the requests sent to me. The problem is that I do not know what to tell not to offend the webmaster whose site I do not want to link to.
I do link to the sites that are on-theme. So reciprocal links are an option. But I do not give reciprocal links to any site that requests them.
Now I think I get it.
You pick and choose from those whom you give your software to according to the merits of the site.
I was under the impression those who downloaded your software (to whom you only request a link in exchange), were asking for a reciprocal link from you back to them, which would mean they get the software and a reciprocal. My interpretational error.
Musta been nappy time for me more than a few hours ago :o as my abstract thinking seems to be running amuk.
Pendanticist.
Yes, they get the software but they also want a link. I don't mind giving software but I don't want to give a link. I'm a greedy webmaster.
Why do you want a site to link to you (in exchange for a free product) if the site is off topic to your site and therefor not worthy of a reciprocal link.Don't agree with the practice, but I get it.
If you look at virtually any PR9 and PR10 site you'll find that the vast majority of their inbound links are from sites that are "off topic".
Reciprocal linking requires great discernment... but non reciprocal inbounds (with relevant anchor text) can help just about any site regardless of topical relevance.
but non reciprocal inbounds (with relevant anchor text) can help just about any site regardless of topical relevance.
Dante Maure ... sure, I understand that, I just don't go out of my way to encourage or "hunt down" sites that are off theme. If someone wants to link to me, I can't stop them.
I still see no point in having a link to me from a smoke shop in Idaho if I sell Pansies in Toronto. PR 9 or 10 notwithstanding. What is the point? Just pure link pop? What's in it for the surfer? Did he go to the smoke shop site to find out all about pansies? Ummm, I don't think so.
I don't agree with the practice and I think "one of these days" the SE's may feel the same way. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it. :)
I would put something like this on the site below the free product offer:
Reciprocal Link Requests:We hope you enjoy "whatever" and appreciate your link in return. Reciprocal links to sites which are "on theme" with our site and which offer valuable information to our clients are possible and are sometimes offered after reviewing your site. However, it is our policy not to link to those sites which do not share our theme or which we find inappropriate. Thanks for your understanding!
If those off theme sites still ask, just send them a copy of the same verbage.
They can provide continuing returns on a fairly small investment of energy upfront.
As for the SE's not "agreeing" with the practice some time in the future... links from on topic sites may count for more, but links from off topic sites are not likely to ever cause harm. At worst, they may be discounted.
Ideally, any viral campaign, links or otherwise, will encourage pass along within one's targeted niche... the off topic pass along is just a nice bonus.
They can provide continuing returns on a fairly small investment of energy upfront.
Yes ... I understand, but ...
I don't agree with the practice.
Just my own personal opinion.
I don't agree with the practice and I think "one of these days" the SE's may feel the same way. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it.
Have to say I agree with you Laine. That's my take on it too, think someday the engines will decide its bad news. Plus, as you said, it doesn't benefit your visitors.
You can determine relevancy but the line is thick and grey- with lots of overlaps.
I would much rather that "on theme" sites link to mine. That's the only point I was trying to make. Its just a personal preference and nothing more.
Perhaps, some time in the future, the SE's will be able to determine that 85% of the links to a given site are "off topic". Suddenly, your link pop drops from 7 to 2 because only 15% of your links are relevant.
Do you have several employees who depend on that site for their income? What would happen if you suddenly fell from #3 in the SERPS to #53 as a result of a new algo tweak?
If you are going to spend any time at all trying to build link pop ... I would think that your time would be better spent collecting links from sites with similar theme and related content from which your readers will benifit.
Coming back to the original point of this post (staying on topic ;)) we have a policy whereby we don't link to any outside sites at all. We try to keep all our sites free of outgoing links: try to keep our sites free of excuses to leave. I get emails every day saying that someone will link to me if I put a link to them on my site- I have never once given them a link. I usually just respond with "It is our company policy not to participate in link exchanges".
That's the actual quote, though I've been unable to find the thread.
It was on using JS with outgoing links to stop PR "loss".
As for the SE's not "agreeing" with the practice some time in the future... links from on topic sites may count for more, but links from off topic sites are not likely to ever cause harm. At worst, they may be discounted.
What percentage of Google's inbound links are on topic? How about Yahoo and Adobe? How could a search engine ever possibly penalize any site for a great number of people considering them worthy of linking to? That would negate the whole principle and philosophy behind Page Rank. And how would they filter which ones were legitimate or not?
I'm 110% in agreement with Dante. I can't see Yahoo ever getting a penalty for artificially pumping up their link pop.
[webmasterworld.com...]
Nicole, I can't see how that relates to your situation at all. The links back to you are perfectly legitimate.
To respond to your question I’d suggest that if you want to write back you can and short and sweet is fine. If you want to offer more in order to educate than that’s fine too. I really like the suggestions made that you’ll save time and energy if you reduce the problem up front by providing your potential linkers with a comment on who you will or will not link to and why. I would also express in the policy that other sites can feel free to link to you and then show them how. I usually do not discourage anyone (with some exceptions for some clients) from linking into a site as these can add value, if nothing else then as traffic.
I’m also finding that with many sites a strategy that includes a reciprocal link directory is the perfect solution. These can benefit a site in many ways. The mere fact of a directory developed to suit what the strategy is for site serves as an example of what sites are accepted for link exchanges. People see this and are comfortable with the format and will usually follow directions. Give them a submission form and the code you’d like them to use to link back along with a clearly defined policy.
Following this discussion reminds me again to encourage people entertaining the concept of link campaigning to plan it out first. All sites should have some policy in place about linking, whether you intend to link with others or not. This means you spell it out for your visitors. You’ll be writing a lot less letters Nicole, telling people why you won’t link to them and you’ll save them the time as well.
