Linear Linking Strategy...Effective?

linking

[vann1]

Hello. I am relatively new to the forums, having only been an avid reader until now. My question for the more experienced is this...

I several domains listed in Yahoo, (many related in subject matter), but I have not dared to link them together, or to my primary business sites, until I am quite certain of a safe strategy to do so. Many of the sites are just informational, but I would like to utilize the PR (2 to 4) of these sites to help some of my other domains which are selling products and services.

I have read recently (here) that recip linking is not the best way to increase PR anymore...that one way links are better. Not to mention that recip linking within your own sites may trigger link farm issues. I have also gathered that the amount of PR a site can share with another site is reduced by the number of outgoing links.

Consequently, I was considering the following linking strategy...Link my 15 or so informational domains in linear format, i.e. no site links back to the site that links to it, and with each site having only 3 or 4 outgoing links total to maximize the amount of PR it passes.

Site A only links to Site B
Site B only links to Site C
Site C only links to Site D
Site D links to MyPrimaryBusiness

In this model I would assume that each site down line would benifit more and more in total PR, as each site should increase the PR of the next site, so by the time you reach Site D, you have considerable PR to pass to the business site? Also, if anything got flagged in this model, no sites link back to the other so I thought this may provide some insulation from a total collapse of all of the sites if Google was offended.

Added note: many of the sites have at least 2 or 3 incoming links from sites (other than their Yahoo listing).

Some may view this as 'artificial' PR inflation, however, if I went to the trouble to develop these sites with useful content I certainly want to get the maximum benifit from them across the board.

Thanks for any help!

[DaveAtIFG]

In my admittedly non-expert opinion, your linking strategy is as good as any, and definitely better than most.

Unfortunately, I'm reasonably confident that it won't result in your primary business site acquiring the "cumulative high page rank" you anticipate.

Try a search for "pagerank explained" or "page rank explained," either search will lead you to some explanations suitable for non math-geniuses.

[mrwhy2k]

The idea is good, but it could be better.
With 15 sites the linking matrix should be something like this:

Site A Links to B C D E
Site B Links to C D E F
Site C Links to D E F G
Site D Links to E F G H
Site E Links to F G H I
Site F Links to G H I J
(continue pattern until L)
Site L Links to M N O A
Site M Links to N O A B
Site N Links to O A B C
Site O Links to A B C D

This is solid interlinking without Crosslinking. This will ensure that your network of sites increases PR, doesn't get nailed for crosslinking and allows you to help all yours sites instead of just one site. In the end, all your sites will help each other.

Some people may frown upon this link method, but it works for tons of people. If all your sites are of related content, then there is no problem, however, if all your sites are different, then people may think this is too spammy. Personally, I know this strategy works ;+)

[vann1]

Thanks mrwhy2k, that is exactly what I was looking for!

So to sum up, my primary business sites would play a role just like any other site in your outline, receiving no more incoming links than any other 'informational' sites in the network?

[mrwhy2k]

Yes, basically, but each sites PR should move up together.
So in the end, your main site will get lots of benefit.

[ogletree]

All my sites link to all my sites. What you guys are talking about is only in case Google starts looking at crosslinking. There is no proof that cross linking hurts. I have seen sites that cross link and are all on the same IP and do very well.

[Macro]

All my sites link to all my sites. What you guys are talking about is only in case Google starts looking at crosslinking. There is no proof that cross linking hurts. I have seen sites that cross link and are all on the same IP and do very well.

Same here.

[vann1]

Hi ogletree and macro...

Just wondering how many sites you guys have crossed linked. If it is helping you and not hurting- then Google must not be frowning on it- unless their is some threshold for the number of crosslinked sites before it is considered farming.

[DaveAtIFG]

I've been penalized for cross-linking, apparently Google considered it excessive. I backed way off and the penalty was lifted so I'm convinced there is a threshold. No idea what it is or how to "quantify" it though.

[Macro]

Just wondering how many sites you guys have crossed linked.

Five.

[guynouk]

None on same 'c' class - in Oct 2002 we lost everything. We then adopted a non-reciprocal variable link campaign, which works well and saved us in Florida.

[vann1]

guynouk...excuse my lack of knowledge, but what do you mean by 'None on same 'c' class'.

Also when you say...'non-reciprocal variable link campaign', is this referring to linking between your own sites or non-reciprocal linking from sites other than your own domains?

[Macro]

what do you mean by 'None on same 'c' class'

Ip numbers too close together suggesting they are held by the same ISP. Lots of IP number information on Google. And welcome to WW.

We have none on the same c class either. They are hosted between 4 different ISPs in two countries. Maybe that helps.

[mrwhy2k]

I cross link about 300 websites using multiple links pages but not on the homepage. I have never been penalized, but I've heard of it happening.

I've starting using interlinking strategies rather than cross linking because I believe it is only a matter of time before Google catches up with me.

I have also heard of some therories of cross linking where google will start getting confused with all the crosslinking at start seeing the sites as one large site rather than individual sites. This is only in the case of adding massive crosslinking footers to every page of you sites.

[nakulgoyal]

Won't this be better called as a network of websites? I think if something wrong happens with oen of those, I would never wish that though, won't all be penalized?

I prefer to interlink as well, but always maintain a ratio of links coming in from outside as well so you never loose.

[ogletree]

We do it for branding reasons and it is only 5 sites. I don't think google will penalize sites that do it that way. If you own several companies you want people to go to them all. Shoot at the mall we got a store that has Taco Bell and KFC. I have seen a Cheveron McDonalds. Department store credit cards work at all the different stores that big companie owns. It is just how business is done on and offline for Google to ban it. I think they just do it when it is obvious spam. If you have a footer with all your sites on it that should be ok.