Does AdSense affect your incoming links?

competition, envy & human nature

[Hobbs]

I have been noticing this for a while now, other webmasters specially the ones that have AdSense on their sites are less likely to place a link to your site when you have AdSense yourself.
I am able to confirm it because one of my sites does not have AdSense and getting links for it is much easier, while another one, pre-AdSense all was great, post AdSense new unsolicited incoming decreasing.. (I run strict non MFA)

Could it be that AdSense webmasters perceive others as competition even when site topics are different?

Could it be that non-AdSense webmasters are less likely to link out to sites that benefit financially from getting visitors, even when those sites are informative, useful and on topic? (I exclude from this 'top of the hill' commercial sites as those get incoming links anyway)

Could this be ONE of the reasons why AdSense Referrals is not too popular among webmasters?

I am sure some here do not mind linking out, but I am interested to know if there is a noticeable trend.

[ken_b]

I link out pretty freely, but not to sites that are pure affilate or Adsense plays.

I want to link to sites that are real merchant or info sites. The info sites will sometimes have adsense or affiliates links on them, but the sites really exist to provide info.

Lately I've noticed more and more merchant sites that also have Adsense on them. Those I look at more closely, if what they are selling is the main focus of the site I may still link, but if adsense is above the fold or on the home page it's a lot less likely.

But then for some merchant sites in my niche I expect to see certain affiliate links on their sites, and if I don't find them, I wonder why. It's puts a question mark in my mind as to the credibilty of the merchant.

[Ricky_G]

No, it doesnt.

I never felt that. Just concnetrate on creating a good website. And good links are bound to come your way.

[Hobbs]

Ricky_G, I am exactly talking about good sites and good content being discriminated against links-wise due to AdSense.

You see, having AdSense and depending on serps for visitors is a recipe for disaster, and without good incoming links it is very hard not to depend on serps.

Back to the topic, ken_b said:
"if adsense is above the fold or on the home page it's a lot less likely.." he will give a link, that's an accurate depiction of what I am observing too.

[Rainie]

There are many quality websites that display Adsense and I link to them regardless of the ads -- usually.

What's a real turn-off to me are the sites that display the maximum ad units allowed on their pages and the blocks are very large. Unless they're integrated well (and some are,) those sites appear cluttered and are the type that I hit the "back" button when I run across them. I have no desire to find the real content within the ads (as a searcher) and don't link to them as a webmaster.

[wrgvt]

While most webmasters would exchange links with quality sites, many want the only way to exit off their site to be via AdSense. We know these webmasters exist because we've seen them post on these forums. They won't want a free link to your site while they try to monetize every visitor to their site. You've really not lost much by not getting links from these sites.