Thread: Why Link Exchanges are a bad idea!

I think most people are not posting the outgoing links in place that detract from their site visitors - if they're smart. However, the power of link exchange has gone way down over the past 5 years.

Some of the info is wrong here:
1. Link exchange is still working very well. My website just turned pr3 - it's about 1 year old now. My website is on page 1 in google with many keywords. I only was doing link exchanges.
2. Smart seo would never place links in positions where visitors would click on them and leave website. You use completely separate website pages for baclinks - this is only for google, not for visitors.
3. In that post a man is proud to be on google page 1 without specifying keywords - that doesn't say anything. The more often the keyword is used by customers, the more difficult it is to get on page 1. If you use non competitive keyword, it is very easy to get on google page 1.
By the way, my website is www-azbuilders-co-uk (change - into .) and see yourselves what i mean

This is really awesome thread mate!
I was been approached by many of website owner for link exchange two ways and three ways. But as I was not confident enough I didn't started. After reading your post I feel really good.

For seo marketing off page, the backlinks, it is always ok to have some reciprocal links (two way links, link exchange) into the mix. Although Google does not rate these types of links highly, they still add up nicely to the total.

But the real power lies of course in one way back linking and what is used more and more as well, as mentioned by the thread starter, is the time that a visitor stays on your site. Google analytics has good stats on this and is free. If you don't use google analytics or webmaster, start with those now

I think the best way to SEO is not only doing one or a few methods, but doing all methods that you know and can do. Link exchanges ALONE are not that effective, especially if you have crappy or duplicate content. Enchanges work if your site is user friendly, content is unique and useful, etc.

Ok, let me explain to those who just like Mr rfresh , have no idea about SEO ( search engine optimization ) and have never done proper link exchange. And when I say proper, I mean:One way , 3 way 4 way link exchanges.
Let's take a 2nd look at that screen shot Mr rfresh submitted. Shall we?



Does anybody see 2 lines on the bottom?


Showing results for property management emergency text messaging


For those who did not know, this is a keyword phrase said website was ( I say "was" , because is not anymore) ranking on page 1.
Wow! this is amazing, isn't it?
property management emergency text messaging

Pretty long keyword phrase if you ask me.
Guess what? How many people search using this particular phrase?
Close to zero.
How do I know that?
I have my tools but the easiest way to find out how popular the keyword is, is this:
Search that phrase on google.com with the quotes, like this:

"property management emergency text messaging"

What you will get is this:




No results found for "property management emergency text messaging".



What does it mean?


It means that as of right now there are NO RESULTS ( zero searches ) for that key phrase.

Which means that competition for this keyword phrase is close to nothing.


Without the quotes, said website is not on the 1st page either.

Mr rfresh if you have ever done link exchange the right way, your site would rank for more related keywords, keywords people actually search for.
Instead, all you have to show for is this never searched for, longer than holland tunnel keyword phrase.
Hope nobody is listening to you.
I rest my case

Originally Posted by Destin2008

I rest my case

Can you say Pwned? Note to self. Don't brag too much if you don't know too much.

Originally Posted by ebetcruz

I think the best way to SEO is not only doing one or a few methods, but doing all methods that you know and can do. Link exchanges ALONE are not that effective, especially if you have crappy or duplicate content. Enchanges work if your site is user friendly, content is unique and useful, etc.

I totally agree on what ebetcruz says; it is all about a nice mix of backlinks, looking natural, not to fast but steady on going, with a site that is userfriendly & has unique content because that will result in increasing the average time a visitor stays on site which is an indication for google that your site has good content and thus places your site better in the rankings...just my two cents

I think reciprocal or two way link exchange is risky but in order to promote the the website one can go for three way or four way link exchange.