My friend has a pretty new real estate site. It does not rank for anything right now but I am working on changing that. My question is he has a bunch of link exchanges, and there are a bunch of banners and junk on the home page. If I just get rid of all that stuff will he get a penalty with google? I really want to trim the fat from the home page. Take a look and give me some suggestions please! Jupiter Homes Ford Sale
If removing the link exchanges will stop him from revceiving backlinks, then it could have an effect. If you are working on SEO, I would work on re generating more backlinks in a more natural way, gradual article submission and directory submission, etc. That should be more effective than a link exchange. Might take some maintenance, but that is SEO for you.
The thing is - if you take the links off - this will tick off the ppl he swapped links w/? I would take them off and work online optimization (tying the pages together w/ internal links) - then use some backlinking from a few relevent forums...then do some article submissions. Don't forget about some web 2.0 props like Squidoo and hubpages as well.
These links exchanges are all automated with big directories and local chameber of commerces' not personal sites