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I've read that having links from your site to other relevant sites can improve your ranking as Google sees you as part of an expert credible network. I've also read that Google doesn't place too much importance on reciprocal links.
Assuming both of these things are true, is it worth my while adding a link to a site that already links to us? The sites I'm thinking about are popular in our industry as they offer free information to our market, they are very relevant, and they have a high PR.
Thanks for your help.
Glenn Murray
I've read that having links from your site to other relevant sites can improve your ranking as Google sees you as part of an expert credible network.
That sounds like Ask Jeeves' Subject Specific Popularity [sp.teoma.com].
I've also read that Google doesn't place too much importance on reciprocal links.
There's a mania for one way inbounds based upon that belief, which has spawned a lot of strange link arrangements, and some PR 8's where you'd least expect them.
Part of the misconception stems from the idea that since one way inbounds may be better than recips, a perception grows that Google must be discounting recips. That's faulty logic.
Also keep in mind that what works today may not necessarily work next month.
Assume elephants fly while you are at it.
Linking to quality sites that link to you is a good thing.
It's nonsense to think that Google doesn't like quality sites in the same niche linking to each other.
Which tends to be very common with amateur sites on a topic; particularly if the topic is narrow.
Cheers.
