Questionable Link Exchange Format

About a webmaster who wants to swap links

[Lester]

Like many of you, I have been overseeing several link swapping campaigns on my sites. One webmaster who linked to my site requested that I use a <span> tag in his link with an overusage of the same keyword in it. I thought that kind of request was ridiculous so I didn't allow it. Google would consider stuffing multiple occurances of a key world spam regardless of where it is on your site spam, correct?

Or is this a new trend? I have never had that type of request from a webmaster before.

[Receptional Andy]

If you are trying to build an 'ethical' site you were right to refuse his request. If he wants to use dodgy techniques on his site, then he can go right ahead. If he wants you to use it on your own pages, no way.

>> Google would consider stuffing multiple occurances of a key world spam regardless of where it is on your site

I doubt if you would be penalised for one link, but why take the risk? He asked for a link, nothing more.

[rfgdxm1]

Sounds to me like he is clueless. I would assume linking as "widgets widgets widgets widgets widgets" would be counted with equal value to "widgets". If it were me swapping links with you, I'd be wanting you to link using several *different* keywords I am shooting for.

[Lester]

Thanks for your input. Yea I agree, the guy has to be clueless in that regard. I was curious to see if other people have experienced weird link requests like this.

It's funny because when I told him that I do not endorse stuffing repetitions of keywords like that, he got offended.