Link Exchange a No NO

**Real Estate Forum** · 01-25-2005, 12:53 PM

OK, we all get the spam mails from various link exchange programs. We also are often ill adviced by those who figgured out search engine marketing within a day

I myself have been doing search engine work for 5 years now and my number one focus is this:

get up there and then stay up there.

Algorithms change and when they do, many crumble and their work has been in vain.

I always look into he future ... I believe common sense will take you places.

Google is struggling right now and invited many search engine optimizers to their Google Dance last August.

http://www.google.com/googledance2004/

Their message was this: work with us, don't try to trick us!

Put yourself in their shoes, create a site that is informative, easy to navigate and then have the right sites link to you.

I purposely have decided not to add a link exchange section here even though I think that it would be good if webmasters here contact each others to do so if their sites are somehow related ( the topic of real estate is often enough even though I would not create those 50-link-spam pages anymore).

Anyways, it is a long subject. Feel free to comment whether you agree or disagree. I myself am doing research on the subject everyday and would seriously advise you NOT to participate in any programs containing the word "link".
My 2 cents ... spend them wisely

**HMiller** · 02-06-2005, 07:57 PM

I've been thinking alot about this topic lately as well. On one of my sites I'm in the process of eliminating my Resources 1,2,3,4,5 pages and created a state by state directory in which I've made sure to include some unique content relevant to each state and I avoided using the word link on those pages.

As far as link exchanges go, I'm starting to avoid exchanging links with any sites on which my link will appear on a page with "link", "link exchange", "trade links" or similar phrase in the title, url or body of that page. I hope I'm not being too cautious, but I think too many real estate website's link pages are starting to look real spammy and linking to some of them may lead to trouble down the road.

**San Diego Real Estate** · 02-07-2005, 01:45 PM

H Miller,

Great information thanks for sharing!

What would you recommend naming a Link Directory?

Please advise...

**HHI Golf Guy** · 02-07-2005, 02:23 PM

I agree Mike - plan for the future.

In my opinion, the relevance of an inbound link will become much more important within the next 18 months. This means not only anchor text, but also the overall content (not just the page content) of the site linking to your site.

Although it takes a heck of a lot longer to build links, I follow these basic strategies for linnnnnk exxxxxchanges:

1. The theme of the site must contain content relative to our site. For example, in real estate I stick with other realtor sites, financial sites, home improvement sites, etc. I have made an exception for the Co-Op, and it has helped our overall rankings. I can't wait until it is categorized.

2. The site I swap with must be indexed by G, Y!, and MSN.

3. The page that my info is going to be on must be properly indexed in each of the SE's. The page must have a PR of at least 1. Yeah, this stinks for new sites. But I want to make sure there are no penalties (that I can verify) on the site.

4. I check the robots.txt of every potential partner (especially for VIA and similar programs).

5. The partner site must have categorized directory pages. We never swap with sites that have hode-podge links.

6. The partner site can display no more than 100 outbound links per page. IMHO, even 100 is still pushing the envelope.

It's also important to verify all of your links each month. Check for dead pages, site penalties, and if the site has been de-listed. I also check to make sure my link is still there. There are some well know SEO's that are happy to list your site for a month or two, then suddenly your link disappears. That's a cheesy way to get one-way links!

As for my partner pages, I name the main page resources.htm. Each of the sub pages contains keywords (i.e. south-carolina-real-estate.htm, home-improvement.htm, etc.).

HMiller - I agree with the unique content on each page. Check our FSBO site below and you can see we added "Fun Facts" on each of the state directory pages. Adsense seems to like this - we usually display ads according to KW's that target real estate in each state.

I have a feeling that all of these site owners that clump thousands of unsorted links together are in for a rude awakening. Come to think of it - maybe it has happened with the latest G algo changes.

**HMiller** · 02-07-2005, 08:54 PM

San Diego, I named my directory "Real Estate Related Directory" and the file name is realestateresources.htm. Also each state's page has a similar title and file name.

**VegasMack** · 02-08-2005, 11:09 AM

One of mine San Diego Real Estate is www.goallpro.com/directory.htm

Each state has some unique content, and all have unique title tags.

I continue to add content when time permits.

~VegasMack

**Jade456** · 02-08-2005, 04:04 PM

I also avoid those who want you to use their specific link text, yet don't reciprocate. The ones that put your link under just the url only www. yada yada.com or your name but expect you to put in two or three links back to them with specific anchor text. Probably the worst are those that use link managing software where the links aren't on their site. Some just don't know any better, but there are those out there that try to mask the url of the pages or even the urls on their own page.

**VegasMack** · 02-08-2005, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Jade456

I also avoid those who want you to use their specific link text, yet don't reciprocate. The ones that put your link under just the url only www. yada yada.com or your name but expect you to put in two or three links back to them with specific anchor text. Probably the worst are those that use link managing software where the links aren't on their site. Some just don't know any better, but there are those out there that try to mask the url of the pages or even the urls on their own page.

Agreed Jade456. A lot (not all) of AA sites are like that.

And with the Links Manager programs that do not reside on the real estate websites server, you then have a one way non reciprocating link from you to them.

And a link in a framed link page is almost worthless IMHO.

~VegasMack

**CTABUK** · 02-09-2005, 01:34 AM

Hi, one of the best tips on backlinking can be read here

http://www.cre8asite.net/browseCats.asp?category=48

One of the better Directory submission tools is www.pheedster.com/directories.php

There is also an interesting 'theory' going around dozens of forums, when a Directory asks for a reciprocal link and you really don't want to do it, but the Directory has a high PR and is case relevant, will you end up in 'deep doggydo' if you put the referring link into a 'link farm'? It's a mute point, it won't show up on your backlinks and the odds are when they search it -they will find it anyway! What are your thoughts?