Linking do's and don'ts?

[clarksc3]

I have 260 city based websites with one main site that links to all 260 sites. Also all 260 city sites link to each other. This is done by putting 20 or so links on a page on various pages within each site along with content.

Each site is unique with little or no identical content.
It does help visitors find different cities to visit.

Is this bad in the eyes of Google or others?
Is it a benefit to my sites? (Inbound links)

All 260 websites are on one dedicated server with the same IP address. Does google see this and not give PR from inbound links from my own sites. Sites are PR3 to PR5 (sites are 8 months old)

Thank you,
Clark

[WebManager]

When you start multiplying 260 sites by 260 and throw in another 20 links per page....

Are you attempting to exceed the number of atoms in the Universe?

I haven't got the super-computer online ;) - but I'd be worried if I were you!

[Yidaki]

Do you mean sites or pages? 260 sites different domains? Wow!

It's just a matter of ... short time ... till google catches and slaps you. A bad plan you're running! ;)

[clarksc3]

That is what I was afraid of.

To clarify. I have 260 Websites (unique domains)! Each linking to the other 259 websites.

Again my thinking is if I am on www."city1".com and I want people to visit www."city2".com or www."city260.com" Why is that SPAM or looked down on? Each city is unique. I have been doing it for 8 months. You think Google views this as bad and I am very lucky so far?

Yes! --> "Are you attempting to exceed the number of atoms in the Universe?"

Also 260 domains on the same IP address bad? or does not matter?

All this is with good intentions (though that may not matter to Google). I am creating good content and links to local businesses, museums, etc.

At the same time I do not want to lose all that I have worked for.

Thanks

[clarksc3]

One more quick question:

How does Google know that the 20 links on each of the 10 pages Linking outbound are ones I own?

The same with the 260 Websites linking back to each other?

Without even hearing the answers I think I am going to take down those pages just in case.

[dazz]

Id be fairly afraid if I where U!

If you do a site serch for linking your sites owned by the same IP address you should find a few topics on the subject.

There are many ppl who have sites banned from google for linking there own sites together!

[choster]

Why is that SPAM or looked down on? Each city is unique.

But you see, if each city is unique, why should they then be all cross-linked as you describe? If I were planning a trip to Florence, and visited a site about sightseeing museums in Florence, I should find it very strange to see links for festivals in Munich or hotels in Osaka.

[2_much]

That's very dangerous clarkc3. You're heading for disaster. What happens is that your sites will create a webmap. I think of it as a percentage. If one given site has 300 links, 270 of which are part of the same map, it'll trip a filter and show very clearly that it's a closed web map.

What I would do if I were you is to break up the sites into clusters. Devise a cluster scheme where you break the sites up (geographically, for ex), and then link them to each other. You could get infinitely complex and creative with this, there are lots of ways in which you could interlink them.

What'll happen is you'll stil get good pageranks based on quality links, without tripping the spam filter. If you complement this with links from other sites outside of your network, your sites should do well.

[clarksc3]

Thanks all. And thank you "2_much", I was looking for a creative solution and you gave some.

To "choster", I beleiev the cities are related because I have branded my concept as a "City Network", similar to DigitalCities and City Search which promote visiting other city site of their own.

I am planning on taking down all the cross linked pages tonight.

I do have a type of regional linkning like you mentioned. Each city site only links to 6 other nearby cities (geographically) and to the main site.

Just for others and future research, I have had these sites and crosslinks for over 8 months and google has ranked them all according the the home page just like they always do. I get heavy spiders once a month and no problems. No sure why I have been so lucky.

Thanks!

[Dante_Maure]

clarksc3, please take all of the advice here with a grain of salt. Penalty paranoia is unfortunately contagious.

2_much offered very sound advice.

While there are risks involved in heavy cross linking, it can be done safely and with very good results.

The three most significant factors are as follows...

- Cross link in the way that will best serve your visitors. (you're already working on this with your geographical hubs)

- No duplicate content. (Already said you're avoiding this)

- Generate as many quality inbound links as you can from relevant sites outside of your own network. The more you have, the safer you'll be.

You're not just lucky. You're smart... and getting smarter. With just a bit more work, you can drop your chances of being penalized to far beneath the danger zone.

[Jon_King]

Thanks for your post Dante_Maure, very informative.

[martinibuster]

"I envy paranoids; they actually feel people are paying attention to them." Susan Sontag

It's okay to feel concern. And clarksc3 certainly has reason for it. Thanks for posting this question because it is a good one. The notion of linking geographically sounds like a good one to me as well.

Citysearch indeed has a good model going. They have a main page with links out to all their subsidiary pages. The subsidiary pages all have links at the bottom of the page back to the main page.