Link exchanges with low PR sites hurt you?

I don't know what to believe

[johnnydequino]

It is true that if you do a link exchange with a low PR site it actually hurts you? As in, if I am a PR3, exchange with a PR1, my page rank can go down?

I am trying various methods of link exchanging with two sites, and the one site that I traded with a page rank 2 or higher (About 100 link exchanges) is doing better than a site that has traded with PR4 sites only and above. (About 35 link exchanges)

Google is going to make me go bald.

jd

[willybfriendly]

Well, if that PR1 is a PR6 in 3 months, how will you feel about not having done the link?

It happens...

WBF

[deejay]

No, they won't hurt you.

They just won't help you as much as a higher PR link.

but, as willybfriendly correctly notes, from little acorns mighty oaks....

[Mark_A]

I agree with that comment, the low pr site of today if run by someone with energy and commitment could be a great link in as little as 6-12 months and you will kick yourself for not having it.

Or as some I see who disdainfully decline to link with sites starting out .. it pays to recall the enemies you make on the way up will be there to help you back down .. how does that saying go again :-)

Does the link make any sense for your users?
If it does ask for it.

Google's PR is fluctuating quite a bit at the moment, it may be time to discount PR in our thinking a bit and do whats best for the users.

Will any users of that site benefit by finding a link to yours, and will any of the users of yours benefit by finding a link to theirs?

If yes yes do it!
Anyone disagree?

edited to correct spelling

[edited by: Mark_A at 11:23 pm (utc) on Sep. 3, 2003]

[nakulgoyal]

Buddy. Keep your attention on getting the good links and stop worrying about the PR. What is PR3 today maybe PR6 or PR7 or even higher sometime tomorrow. Links always help as long as they are NOT from BAD sources like Link Farms, FFA's, Guestbooks etc!

[Marcia]

I've been hunting links for a couple of new sites and I'm deliberately looking for some sites I like that haven't had the exposure they deserve. The ones with less populated link pages or sections aren't part of those big almost_closed_circle groups of links that are out there in certain niches that all link with each other.

It's not a matter of PR, I think when people click on a link to a site that's really good they get kind of a "feel-good feeling" and it adds to the site that's linking out.

There's room for both linking for PR and just linking to sites out of choice. And having a balance could even be a safety factor if a certain amount is unique and/or unreciprocated.

[rogerd]

Johnnyd, much of the fear of linking to low PR sites stems from the situation many months ago. Specifically, GoogleGuy warned against linking to bad neighborhoods. At that time, PR0 penalties were rampant and just about any site with a pulse seemed to be PR4 or better. The situation was pretty clear - avoid anything with PR0 - PR2 like the plague.

Now, the situation is far less clear. We haven't heard much about bad neighborhoods, and the toolbar is certainly not a good way to identify them. The toolbar has been erratic, and new pages and sites now may show up as PR0 until they are ranked. Low-ranked pages, say PR1 - 3, are more common than they used to be.

So, let your gut guide your linking. If it's a good site, do it. If they are spammy, don't.