[Wayne Boardman]

Try and phrase this post better than my last!

Is this the right place to post about exchanging website links? I know reciprocal links really help with google rankings and could help us all...So wondering
a) If this is allowed as a topic on this forum?
b) Is this the right pace for the discussion?

(Probably get shot down again - but hey if you dont ask !)   (Go on Mike - Good/Bad/Awful idea?)

[Adam P]

reciprocal links don't help with google rankings, well they aren't supposed to and could even damage them as google don't want to see them for seo purposes, but in the past they've not been great at detecting them, though they are getting much better. imo a bad idea now

[Wayne Boardman]

Sorry but you are wrong.

reciprocal links are a key factor for improving search engine rankings. As long as you don't subscribe to a link farm - which is just some random set of websites.
If the links are related in content it a positive move.
If you don't believe me Just have a look on google...

(A reciprocal link is an agreement between two webmasters to provide a hyperlink within their own website to each other's web site. Generally this is done to provide readers with quick access to related sites, or to show a partnership between two sites. Reciprocal links can also help to increase traffic to your web site in two ways. First you will probably have some viewers visit your site from clicking the reciprocal link directly. Secondly, most Internet search engines also take into account the number of web sites which contain links to your web site; the more hyperlinks to your site found, the higher up in the search engine rankings (depending on the search term) you'll find your site.)

[Adam P]

i'll rewtie my post.

link exchanging worked in the past because google wasn't that good at detecting it. google don't want link exchanging for seo purpose and can reduce a sites serp if they find it's been link exchanging for seo purposes. google only want to see links that are genuine and there because you can recommend the site.

if we swap links now it's not because you like my site or company which is of no use to google. it only works because google don't detect all link exchanging, but as i said they are getting better. imo it's now not worth it but instead spend time finding ways to get real links to your site.

[garry22]

Wayne,

I wouldn't worry too much about reciprocal links nowadays, especially from "links" pages.

You would be better off carrying on with your article marketing (but make sure the blogs you post articles on do not have the same IP addresses).

[wynne jones]

Reciprocal links are not completely worthless. The thing is do they carry enough weight for the effort? I'd say do a dozen or so because a natural profile would probably have a few anyway.

 

[Mike Halliday]

just on a side note....... how important is it to have fresh content on your website? and how much of it should there be.

[Adam P]

personally i haven't got loads of experience with comparing fresh content sites to ones without so any thoughts are just thoughts not proven facts, but i'd expect google will understand that some sites like ours wont have much opportunity for fresh content so it hopefully shouldn't be as much as a requirement. i'd personally say if you've got one part of your site with something like a blog then that should be enough. as long as your site doesn't sit the same for 2/3 years, maybe a refresh every now and again to show you're trying to stay current i don't think you'll stuggle with decent serp any more or less then someone who changes it weekly.

[garry22]

just on a side note....... how important is it to have fresh content on your website? and how much of it should there be.

Mike,

I would say very important but have not got cast iron evidence to back it up (yet).

I have been doing some testing for someone whose site was stuck about half way down page three for their main keyword (sorry I cannot show you the site as it belongs to someone else).

For the last three weeks, They have been blogging at least once every three days (sometimes once a day), using a Wordpress blog installed on a "normal" static html site).

The site has moved from the third page to last place on the first in that time.

BUT (and it's a big but), other sites have been going up and down like a yo yo recently as Google is perhaps doing one of their "realignments" at present. The rise could be coincidental or due to the increased activity and regular fresh content. I cannot be sure.

I will have more idea in say. a month's time.

If in doubt, put something fresh up and ping the RSS.

[Wayne Boardman]

Mike,

Gary is right - google likes fresh content (relevant) and  this can rapidly move the page up.
Best way as mentioned is linking blogs to your website...Problem is thinking constantly of what to say !