Links to my site on same server

Do links to my site from different domains but on the same server help?

[csdude55]

In the past, links to my site were a great help in search engine placement.

But now, the question is... if several sites that link to me are on the same server, does it help with my placement?

One of my company's services is local website hosting. We were considering a special to offer free hosting to clients in exchange for a text link back to one of our smaller sites. But if this won't actually help with our search engine placement, then maybe not.

TIA!

[LifeinAsia]

A few years ago, we started hosting one of our client's sites and had a lot of (not excessive) cross-linking. They got a big help in the SERPs, not much measurable effect on our end. We also did a lot of SEO and added content to their site, so the boost wasn't just from links.

That was before the upheaval of the past 5 years, so no idea what effect it would have now.

On a side note, after they stopped hosting with us, they neglected to renew the domain (despite numerous notifications by us), letting it expire and losing all the benefits we created for them (besides the links).

[csdude55]

Based on something that was mentioned to me by PM, I wanted to clarify. I don't mean that we would link to one another; they would all link to me on Server B, while my site is on Server A. There would be no link on my site back to them.

The concern I have is that they would all be on the same server, and have the same IP address. The content would be relevant (my site is local news, and all of the sites would be local to me), but if there's no boost (or even a penalty) because they're on on the same server then that would defeat the purpose.