I wrote an article that why you should not submit your site to reciprocal web directories. Here is the reason. Does anybody here agree with me ?
I hate to say it, but I generally don't do the recip directory thing either. Especially if the site I'm promoting is a ecommerce or actually *selling* site. I just haven't found a way to integrate those links into a "professional" site that looks half-way decent when there's more then one or two of them. Besides, if I'm trying market my site that sells widgets, the last thing I want to do is put a dozen "Joes Worldwide Widget Directory, Get all your widget information here!" links across the page.
I had a friend who submitted, but the he made the reciprocal link a "comment" in his coding so he would be spidered (by the said website) and be clear, but didn't have to put the link on his site. I haven't actually tried it...but the mind of a 15 year old is always trying to con people....
Totally agree to this thought. Reciprocal linking is dead for a long time For directory owners, I feel they should ask for backlink to individual category pages..
I agree. Free directories that don't require a link back are good for link building though. Recip link directories are full of crap and a ripoff.
I don't agree. Yeah better deal is one way link. But what's the deal for directory? Imagine directory which doesn't have backlinks at all. Would you submit there? I think directory have to get some backlinks to be indexed, and there is advantage for your submitted link. You said on 4 point "Most of directories ask you to link them and after you link them you may complete your submit. But, When you hit the submit button many directories will say that they can’t detect the links " I didn't noticed this during submission. I have many reciprocal submissions with link pages that have 500(!) or more links on page. Here is example. Such a link doesn't seems to valuable, right? Check mi sig for directories. I don't remove links.
I don't give reciprocal links to directories for one very simple reason: some of those directory owners will one day quit the directory business. Then someone else may buy up the domain name and turn it into a porn site or some other undesirable type of website. This can happen without my knowledge, and the next thing you know I would have a link from my reputable website to a disreputable one. You cannot control the content on web pages you link out to, so why take the chance? You may deeply regret it one day.
Jim: Not only directory can turn into porn site. It's not the good reason why not to link. Every site after exchange can remove your link. Anyway every has to choice link or not to link.
To the contrary, it is a very good reason not to link out. The original post was specifically about directories, and that's what I replied to. Lot's of directories fail, and the domain name later ends up owned by someone else and turns into a site for porn, warez, Viagra, etc., and still has my link pointing to it. I don't give outbound links to any website (directory or otherwise), unless I know the webmaster personally.
a little bit agree but still many reputed company and seo expert implements reciprocal and also they benefit from it,,, so there is always confusion on reciprocal...
I would agree with Jim there. I maintain a list of free directories and many times the directories turn into adult sites within a couple of months.
This is exactly what I was referring to and is why I do not give out reciprocal links, unless I know the webmaster of the other site personally, and therefore know that his/her site will not go to new ownership and become an adult site one day.
I think you generalizing about directories. Not all directories fail. Know webmaster personally??? So you mean to meet face to face???
1) Of course not all directories fail. But I don't want a link from my site to even one of them that fails and becomes a porn site (or similar). That's why I don't link out to them. 2) Yes, I do personally know the owner of every site I link out to on my Resources page at http://www.jimfeeney.org/recommended-bible-websites.html.