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Spent half of today writing to websites asking for link exchanges. Found a site, not super-well ranked, which had a link exchange form which requested only exchanges with PR 3 sites or greater. I made a swap with my Links page (PR4) for a page on their site which I suddenly realised was PR2. And had about 100 links on it. My link page has about 30. And I started to get angry.
When I first started out 10 months ago no b*gger would link to my new site. Now it's a monster PR7 and everyone wants a piece of me. And I always give it. I always link to on-topic pages from within on topic pages, even if their site is a little poorly designed or if it is ranked low. Because I rememeber the little website I used to be. Because I remember how difficult it was. Because, like J-Lo, I'm still Jimmy from the block, etc.
The more I thought about the more I realise that it's these people who wreak the web for everyone else, these people who a destroying G with their distorting votes, these people who are going to open the market to MSN because Google's PR is screwed and they have been forced to play with other methodologies in order to stay in the game.
Damn, I was mad. So I wrote them a stroppy email. I reported them to google (not even sure what for). And cancelled the link exchange. I even nearly signed their site mailing address up to a gambling mailing list (I didn't, I'm not psychotic).
So my point is, am I right to get so angry about people do this? I think it was the blatant nature of the beast. No poxy PR2's allowed on this website, we're too good for you.
BTW- I understand if this never goes out. It's just catharsis for me.
It is sad that we judge sites on Pagerank rather than content.
It is sad that we judge sites on Pagerank rather than content.
I now only use PR as one of the indicators that suggest a site could be banned, rather than to help me decide whether or not it's worthy of linking to. I try to see my link pages as more of a quality resource, rather than just a means to an end.
With the struggle for SE rankings, a lot of webmasters seem to have forgotten that a lot of visitors arrive through links from other sites, and not directly from search engines. Touting for links from all and sundry or blog spamming is just not a very effective use of time in this context.
I just link to sites that are relevant and fit my editorial guidelines. And I don't link from a generic "links page"--I link from pages on specific topics, since my readers are more interested in links to relevant information than in links per se.
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Oh yeah the page is now PR6, still wish to decline my offer? Well up yours mate the offer has been recinded :)
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