Is It Ever Okay To Exchange Links?
That may sound like a silly question since many people either freely exchange links or simply refuse to. However, is it okay to do those link exchanges?
Before considering or agreeing to a link exchange, ask yourself these three questions:
- What’s in it for me?
- What’s in it for them?
- Why do I want to do a link exchange?
Taking the last first. If your primary reason is to build inbound links, forget it. The reality is, for links to have a major effect you need hundreds. If you do link exchanges by the hundreds then you are really becoming nothing more than a link farm.
So what is in it for you? If your answer is exposure and traffic then you’re on the right track. If the site complements your own – so much the better. The fact that you may be getting a quality link is a bonus.
What’s in it for them? That is their problem really. However they should have the same approach as yourself. Exposure and quality traffic from a related site with an optimized link as a bonus.
Link building should have a focus on providing value for your visitors; delivering quality traffic to your own site; and as a bonus, a well optimized link. Search engines like Google like to see links leaving a web site particularly if that link is to a related site. Exchanging links can be a valuable part of your link building program – just don’t rely on it to get a rankings boost.
