Many of our sites have been around for 3 to 5 years and have thousands of incoming links. Most of these links were set up back when reciprocal linking was 'cool' and the thing to do. We did not intentionally ever link with a bad site, but things change over time. Good sites go bad, as we all know, and I think that might be what happened with us. However, with the new approach Google is taking, only good, quality links count. I think one of our sites are being linked with one or more 'bad neighborhood' sites, as far as Yahoo and MSN are concerned. We do not have the search positions we do in Google. How do we determine IF our links are in a 'bad neighborhood', and if they are, more importantly, HOW do we get them REMOVED?
You never have to care about incoming links, as there is no way you can control them. Your concern should be with your outgoing links. They need to be checked one by one, to make sure you do not link to bad sites. If you're reciprocating with a "bad" site, there's nothing to loose by removing it.
Just make sure remove the link going to the bad site. Google will not hold you responsible for inbound links, as you can't control them, like Perrow said. Imagine, if that was the case, how much damage you could do to your competitors
This is EXACTLY the argument I used with my SEO guy, but he is adamont that incoming bad links can and do hurt!! Can anyone provide me with an authoritative source I can show him, so he will stop harping on incoming links as the problem and look elsewhere.
I think you need a new SEO guy.....So far I found this article on Google webmaster support http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35769 This only states you should not link to bad sites, but I am sure Google will not penalize you for getting a link from a bad neighborhood site. Think about it: your competitors and any other person that simply doesn't like you could do you a lot of damage just by posting links in your name on bad sites