Cross Linking

When is linking bad practise?

[shady]

I am a little confused (a lot!) with regard to linking strategies and would appreciate some webmasterworld help please!

I have the following scenario

site - links to all sites I have developed as a portfolio.

site1: links to nothing
site2: links to site1 site3 site6 site4
site3: links to site1 site2 site4
site4: links to site5 site6
site5: links to site2 site4 site6
site6: links to site1 mobile site4

As you can see, the sites don't all link to all sites. Also there are no hidden links and the sites specify which are related and which are "other shops of interest".

Will I likely be penalised for this and if so how can I avoid it?

[edited by: agerhart at 2:16 pm (utc) on Nov. 17, 2003]

[shady]

Any opinions?

[jk3210]

>>Will I likely be penalised for this?<<

Yes, you will be penalised, because you will go along for a while saying "Hey, this is working out pretty cool, I think I'll link them up some more," and then one day (soon) you'll awake to a big, fat white bar.

At least that's how it happened to a group of 18 of my sites. :)

>>are "other shops of interest".<<

I tried that too. Mine were linked through a full content page written in prose, not the usual links page structure. Didn't make any difference. It's not what you call the pages that matters, it's how the linking structure looks on Google's web map.

>>and if so how can I avoid it<<

Cross-link only when it benefits your users, not your PR.

[shady]

Thanks for your reply JK.

Obviously, I wish to avoid any problems with google! If I can give another example, which I think may be a better approach, I would welcome views!

my-website-devopment-website.com link to all sites as a portfolio

All sites link back to my-website-devopment-website.com as the creater of the site (logical) - usual small footer link

Within the group of sites which I have developed, there are cross links where applicable
e.g. shop-that-sells-games-consoles.com links to shop-that-sells-games-software.com but does not link to site which sells fresh-fish-here.com

If you have any views, please do let me know :-)

Best regards

[nakulgoyal]

What if the links are coming from the links page and the links page has a link from the homepage /?

I feel that would be better and safer NOT SAFEST.

[shady]

Yes, probably a good idea!
I will go for "featured" sites on the homepage and the others will be relegated to the portfolio page.

Frantically working on it now, before google eyes start frowning!

Thanks for you input!

[clarksc3]

I have been cross linking like you explained at the top here for 2 years. I have not had any penalties. Nor can I say I have gained any benefit. I have over 270 city websites that only cross link to nearby cities (Geographically), they are not all linked to each other. Most are a PR 4 to a PR 5.

[jamesa]

>> I have the following scenario

The question to ask yourself is does it look natural? If links didn't matter to the SEs would you still link them that way?

[shady]

Hi jamesa

Well, in all honesty I probably would, but purely to drive some traffic from one site to another.

Although the items aren't always strictly related, they are items or services which are likely to be of interest to most users.

I suppose some are the equivalent of a mobile phone shop advertising on a fishing site. Not really related to fishing in any way, but many fishermen are likely to be interested in purchasing a mobile phone (just an example, please don't attack me, if you are a fisherman!).

I feel this is perhaps a grey area and am still worried. I don't want the "sky to fall" as many of you put it!

Best regards
Shady