link exchanging ... when does it become farming

... to help avoid later penalisation

[OddDog]

so were is the line drawn between link exchanging and link farms?

[troels nybo nielsen]

I do not think that there is one precise line. But to keep sure of being on the right side of it you basically have to do two things:

1. Link to lots of websites, that are completely independent of yours and of each other. Websites that do not link back to you. Good websites that are relevant for the terms that you use as link text, but at the same time preferably websites that have their main focus on other topics than your own website deals with.

2. Get incoming links from websites that are independent from yours and from each other. Websites that you do not link back to. This may be somewhat difficult because you cannot dictate the actions of other webmasters. You can only pursue this target inderectly by creating lots of good content that hopfully attracts those other webmasters.

A linkfarm is a narrow, self-sufficient ring of websites. To avoid linkfarming you need to reach out far beyond any such ring.

Or in other words:

If ALL your links are the results of link exhanging and your link partners follow the same pattern, then you have a link farm. You have to avoid such a pattern.

[automotivetouchup]

To ask the question further, should I fear interlinking my own websites to keep some of the traffic?

[fathom]

A linkfarm is a narrow, self-sufficient ring of websites. To avoid linkfarming you need to reach out far beyond any such ring.

Yes - true -- but the problem in link farming arises from the broading of the ring of sites - not a continuos narrow version.

To illustrate... five sites put up a page each linking to the others...

A sixth site comes and links to all and the previous ring all link back... and so on.

While it is quick difficult to determine the threshold of Google's ability to recognize a pattern... the 100 link margin that Google references per page is a good place to start.

I don't believe I have seen a penalty/ban on an actually link farm with less... anyone else?

[rogerd]

should I fear interlinking my own websites to keep some of the traffic

Modest interlinking shouldn't hurt you. Linking a couple of dozen sites from every page on every site, OTOH, would be risky. Where the line between too much and OK lies isn't clear.

It seems that external linkage is a big factor - if each site has plenty of independent links, then the risk is lower.

[conroy]

Where the line between too much and OK lies isn't clear.

As it should be. Otherwise everyone would go right to the edge of what is allowed in manipulative efforts.

[johnlim]

If somebody already reach the threshold of "link farm" and have take the suspected links.

Then how long will the sites recove from "link farm"?

How do google penalize "link farm"? rank 0 for homepage or?

[fathom]

If somebody already reach the threshold of "link farm" and have take the suspected links.
Then how long will the sites recove from "link farm"?

How do google penalize "link farm"? rank 0 for homepage or?

Interesting question?

I doubt "a penalty" but a ban would occur.

Fixing this - and pleeing your case to Google is the only recovery strategy.

They are not devil dogs that will leave you out in the cold, but at the same time - if you are not sincere in your dialogue this can be preceived "let me back in so I can attempt to fool you again.

[rogerd]

Johnlim, there are no hard & fast rules. Google penalties have included gray toolbar (no PR), zero PR, and reduced PR. Some sites report full recovery from penalties over a period of months, others say sites never fully recover and it's better to start fresh.

Mild penalties that are applied automatically seem to be the easiest to reverse by removing whatever caused them.