daniel_o - Google values unique content that is of value to its users... and it uses, among hundreds of other signals, freely given editorial links as a measure of value.
Having read some of your other questions about your site(s) elsewhere in WebmasterWorld, it doesn't sound like you're having much luck in getting links that are freely given.
On one thread [
webmasterworld.com...] you mention that on one site you've asked users to post badges (linking back to you, we're all assuming) in order to get backlinks.
In this thread, you're wondering about trading content for backlinks from very iffy directories. I think you're headed in completely the wrong direction in all of these questions.
is this a good way to build your links?
No. Very simply, if your content or services or tools you offer aren't good enough to attract natural backlinks after some promotion, it's most likely not good enough to rank in Google for any length of time.
isn't it considered as black SEO and link farming?
The situation isn't quite clear enough for me to say exactly what's going on, but you're right to be suspicious. Nothing good is likely to come of this arrangement. While it would only be a link farm if you linked to the directories, it sounds like these guys who are offering to publish your rss feeds are scamming you.
At best, links from those kinds of directories aren't going to help you rank. At worst, some of these directories will be ranking instead of you, using your content... and ultimately your content might be seen as dupe material.
Here's a thread with some helpful comment about what "black hat" is...
What is black hat SEO? http://www.webmasterworld.com/new_web_development/4375892.htm [webmasterworld.com]
From your various posts elsewhere on WebmasterWorld, I
think you're wanting to do the right thing, but to be honest I can't quite tell. You've been flirting with some techniques, like the badges, which are potentially dangerous... and pursuing mechanical objectives like "raising PageRank" are pretty much missing the point.
Promoting a website so it will achieve organic rankings is a lot of work, and while there were once tricks that would work for a short while, I'd say that there is no quick way any more. You've got to build a good site, intelligently targeted... and you need to create enough buzz to attract visitors. If the site is good enough, then you will engage the visitors, create more buzz, and attract links and create other measures of authority and popularity in the process. If it's not, you won't rank organically.
There are many online tools these days that can help you create social buzz and to maintain online involvement with your customers. They're discussed in many of the other forums here at WebmasterWorld.
Keep in mind that it's much better to think in terms of actually getting visitors to your site and keeping them involved with you and aware of you online than it is to create backlinks of dubious value.
