Best way to cross-link - footer links or throughout site?

[AnonyMouse]

With Google's recent crack-down on paid-for links, I'm wondering about the best strategy for cross-linking one's own sites.

Is it still safe to crosslink in the footers, or is that likely to send "paid links" / "spammy links" signals? Is 100 footerlinks better than 5 or 10 links from random pages?

What is the best strategy for link-building between your own sites?

[sandpetra]

Might sound stupid but I would mix it up (a wee bit)

[AnonyMouse]

Thanks for the reply. Interesting idea too!

Do you mean Site A has footer links AND random links to site B?

Or do you mean that Site A has footer links to Site B, but site C has random links to Site B?

[tedster]

Just an observation here - YMMV. I've never had ranking trouble with a site that launched containing cross-links in the template, but I have had trouble with sites when the cross-linking was added to the template later on.

Useful and judicious cross-linking from within the page content has never casued a problem.

[glengara]

Seems to be a lot less cross-linking these days, it used to invariably be "part of the mix" in a linkage-based penalty...

[ecmedia]

Use the nofollow tag.

[man in poland]

In my experience, adding a lot of footer links to an established site is a big no-no. At the best it will have no benefit to you. At the worst it may take your site to the cleaners in the SERPS. I have a number of sites, and do very little linking between them. I suggest that you try to make each stand (or not) as far as possible on their own merits - their own unique content and unique inbound links.

[MadeWillis]

tedster,

would your comments hold true on domains located on similar IPs?

[edited by: MadeWillis at 6:20 pm (utc) on Feb. 22, 2008]

[tedster]

One case I work with includes crosslinking between 3 domains on the same IP address. But it's very clear if you look at the sites that the links are their for the end-user and there are excellent business reasons for using different domains. All the sites involved are regularly updated and expanded, too -- no drone domains here.

[glengara]

How crosslinking is viewed is probably down to how the rest of your linkage pattern is seen and if a "perceived intent" is discerned.

[tedster]

Well said. If a domain's overall backlink profile is strong and healthy, then a bit of cross-linking for the visitor's benefit should not be a problem.

[potentialgeek]

Is it still safe to crosslink in the footers?

No.

Extremely risky: Reciprocal cross-linking with footers to many websites with little content and few or no other IBLs.

Very risky: Cross-linking with footers to a few sites you own on the same IP right after site is launched.

Risky: Any footer links

Are 100 footerlinks better than 5 or 10 links from random pages?

! More footer links = more risk.

What is the best strategy for link-building between your own sites?

None!

Google can see them a mile off. Don't even think you're smarter than a PhD or Spam Assassin at the Googleplex.

p/g