To Exchange or not to exchange, that is the question

[sb1234]

So what are the oppinions here about link exchange. Seems noone ever knows what google is up to. If i exchange links with related sites, do i benefit?
Should i not exchange at all. My link page had multiple catagories, should it only be site related?

let me know what you think.

[trichnosis]

in my opinion, google is ignoring the link exchanges on serp criterias

[sb1234]

thanks for answering, im debating on weather i should continue my efforts or not

[KNEB]

Not to exchange.

[machinecontroller]

I think exchanging links with sites within your niche is a good idea. The only thing I did to promote a new blog was exchange links with other blogs in my niche, and it went from PR0 to PR4 in the last update.

Google is not penalizing blogrolls.

[cybersurge]

I think that commenting on similar sites is much more effective than link exchanges. Even though you won't get any PR benefits I've found that many more people click on links for commenters than people that click on blogroll links.

[kentuckyslone]

Here is an idea - Exchange links for the purpose of getting traffic.

In other words do exchanges with highly relevant sites that are getting traffic.

[aira]

To exchange or not to exchange?

It depends on the purpose of link exchange and the quality of link. As much as possible, choose related sites. There's no problem in exchanging links as long as it is in a minimum amount..

[live-cms_com]

Good link exchanges do help SERPs, I have experienced it. I have had websites whos only backlinks are from exchange and they still rank highly for moderately competitive keywords.

[Forrest]

Seems noone ever knows what google is up to.

Well ... maybe unless you read what they announce they're up to (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66356)?

They really don't help you in the SERPs, and excessive link trading can get you punished. Already it doesn't sound like a great proposition. But the whole search engine optimization thing is all about getting traffic from search engines. If you're actually getting quality traffic from an exchange that's a good thing. Unless you send more traffic away from your site than you gain.

All in all, the time you'd spend on link exchanges can be more beneficial if you put it to different uses.

[Raithe]

I do not believe in link exchanges.

One way links all the way!