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This really doesn't make much sense because multi-lingual sites often use cross-linking to help users with language barriers. As well, the major search engines cross link between their different nationality sites. Also, there are many directories which crosslink between categories, where each site provides specifc content.
However, if this is problem, I need a solution that will provide the greatest benefit of page rank and maintains the benefit of the network. I realize that I won't be able to maintain 4000 links pointing to each site, but I would like to maintain a good percentage of this.
My main focus is I don't want to spam and don't want to be penalized.
I need strategies. Please help!
I also wanted to benefit by the possibility of increased Page rank. However, now I hear that Google penalizes for crosslinking
Thats partly the point. Google does not like artificial Pageranking or normal Ranking benefits through these type of set-ups.
There are many threads here on cross-linking of sites. Check the "site search" function.
None of those threads will give you a clear and precise answer on how far you can go.
Generally speaking, through looking at other heavy interlinking sites, one could say that having 50% of external incoming links from "real independant sites" would give you some sort of security. But 30 heavily interlinking sites does seem a lot.
As you say your clients seem to love heavy cross-linking and being sent to multiple sites. You can still serve them by using javascript links of pull-down menus.
I would wager that sooner or later Google's algo will be clever enough to let everyone cross-link till eternity, without getting a penalty, or any Pagerank or Rank benefits over someone putting the same information of 30 sites, on one site.
welcome to WebmasterWorld mosley.
I have a feeling that Google takes every vote (link) to be important.
In a way there is nothing wrong with a reciprocal link. It can show a community of shared interest, it can mean that two highly respected pages in the field recognise each others competence.
There is also the question of what comprises a real reciprocal link.
A - Would that be from page A to page B and vice-versa?
B - Would that be from site A to site B and vice-versa on different pages?
5 years ago they were all one domain, but as we thought it was all too doverse for one site, and that info in specific directories was being ignored by search engines. so we split several larger directories off into separate domain names. The concern was also at this stage on "theming". We were worried we were too doverse for search engines to pick up a theme.
We were very concerned 18 months ago when crosslinking penalties seemed to be the big discussion here. However it seems that most people caught were cross linking very aggressively..
For what its worth our policy on cross linking is.
1. Make sure you have lots of independent uniqiue sites linking to each site as well. Preferably different sites for each of your sites.
2. dont link to the home page of each site all the time, but link to the inner pages, that give more specific info, and try to keep links to your own sites to less than 10% of all external links.
3. Dont crosslink from every page in each site, or even close. That one is obvious.
4. If its only 3 or 4 sites cross linked, even fairly aggressively, I dont think there would be much problem, but i dont want to try it out in reality!
So far.. so good :)
A ---> A intro page of B -----> B
A2 ---> A intro page of B -----> B
A3 ---> A intro page of B -----> B
....
A ---> A intro page of C -----> C
A2 ---> A intro page of C -----> C
A3 ---> A intro page of C -----> C
...
extra for all the sites. The question is how many of these intro pages could I create per site without appearing as spam.
