Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Outbound Links: One domain links to numerous outside domains (on our self-help resources pages), but the other two domains do not link to other domains (besides our three).
Inbound Links: Two of the domains have at least one link from an outside domain.
Would search engines tend to view this set-up as a "link farm"? When does a linking structure cross the line, to become a "link farm"?
General if I was linkking more than 2 sites together I would be thinking along the lines of site 1 links to site 2, site 2 links to site 3 and so on until you complete loop with the last site linking back to site 1.
Hope this is of some help.
Mack.
I've logically divided our web site into several "themed" sections. Then, I gave each "theme" its own domain name. Each domain also has its own hosting plan, so I can spread out bandwidth usage, as well. The first site has all the images. The second site has a bulletin board. The third site has online submission forms.
Then, I based the linking structure on how I think visitors will want to be able to navigate. But, it doesn't work out to your suggested style of a loop. Rather, they're quite intertwined.
Truthfully, I did think that PR might be helped, as a side benefit -- but I would want this themed approach, even if it didn't help PR. However, I certainly don't want to HARM my PR.
Does it sound like I'm safe from being misconstrued as a "link farm?" I guess that I would feel better if I better understood how the search engines differentiate between a "link farm" and a site structure such as mine.
To further protect yourself, get as many good external links to each domain as you can. That should help insulate you from being tagged as a PR-crosslinker.
I'd probably also add a few outgoing third party links to the two domains that don't have any.
Excellent piece of advice :)
General if I was linkking more than 2 sites together I would be thinking along the lines of site 1 links to site 2, site 2 links to site 3 and so on until you complete loop with the last site linking back to site 1
Hey mack, some people have advised in the past to avoid loops. What do you think about it?
Just to add my own theory to this question I would not interlink these sites unless each of these website stands on it's own. That will infact help give a better boost. Of course there are other parameters involved like where do you host the sites etc. But you seem to have valid reason to crosslink. Do things only after you are sure of what you are doing. HTH :)
Two of the domains are on one server. The third domain is on another server. Perhaps that helps me?
I'm creating a list of directories that could potentially link to me. However, two of the domains are sort of new, and their index pages are still PR0 (even though internal pages have positive PR). As soon as Google gives me positive PR all around, I think that I can reasonably ask directories and other organizations to link to me. In the meantime, anyone here want to link to me? lol ;)
I'm also working on outbound links (from the two domains without any). I'll create a resource page on each domain, and I'll keep adding quality links to them. May I ask the other webmasters for reciprocal links, or does that defeat the whole purpose of having the outbound links?
I'll create a resource page on each domain, and I'll keep adding quality links to them.
You can also give outbound links from your site content. :)
May I ask the other webmasters for reciprocal links, or does that defeat the whole purpose of having the outbound links?
Ask for reciprocals after you put their link on your site. If they reciprocate good for you. :)
The site I'm asking about is: link4travel.com
More generally, any organized link exchange program might be risky, particularly if it is well publicized. I don't know what the characteristics of this program are, but if it involves you linking to many members of a network or to the organizer's site, I would assume there is some risk. You could check the PageRank of the home site and its participants to see if they are currently penalized. Even if they look OK at the moment, though, I'd be cautious.
Google's successful algorithm is based on organic linking. To the extent that people manipulate that by selling PR or organizing mass link exchanges, Google can be expected to try to minimize the benefit of those efforts.
We have tried what you are proposing and it seems to work. We will now link to any site that is relevant to our field if they have a decent site.
We always ask for them to link back, but if they don't we don't care as we are offering our customer an extra service iwth the information.
Doug
So I have the impression that there is nothing bad if it suites a valid reason. But it may also be realted to the fact that some of our site are on the web since 97 and we do it the same since them...
My 2 ct,
Rainer
When I first launched the directory I had it setup that links back where mandatory for approval, but there weren't that many sites being submitted, so I decided to remove the mandatory part and now I get at least one new submission a day. I think when it reaches about 500 links, i'll bring it back in. It's only at 175 or so links.
Thanks for the reply btw :)
All of them interlink heavily but also have many outbound links (yes, I think I know what I am doing).
Yeah from your post I agree you know what you are doing :)
When I first launched the directory I had it setup that links back where mandatory for approval, but there weren't that many sites being submitted, so I decided to remove the mandatory part and now I get at least one new submission a day. I think when it reaches about 500 links, i'll bring it back in. It's only at 175 or so links.-- WebDevInfo
Anyone have suggestions on overcoming other webmasters' resistance to backlinking?
Oh, big question... how do you make sure that your own directory doesn't link to someone else's "link farm" or "bad neighborhood"?
We find that 1 in 4 sites we list and link to list back to us, and in many cases they put us in prominent places and with great anchor text. Many of these sites have very few outbound links, hence we get good PR, good text and traffic.
We try to make their links good for them even if they don't understand what we are doing.
Occasionally we find a site who does understand what we are doing and then life gets interesting:) About 1 in 100 we link out to fall into this category
Doug
Do you think the lack of backlinks was due to low PR on your own site? Or some other reason?
Anyone have suggestions on overcoming other webmasters' resistance to backlinking?
Oh, big question... how do you make sure that your own directory doesn't link to someone else's "link farm" or "bad neighborhood"?
