Is There a Benefit to Reciprocal vs Free Listing?

Is there a benefit to using a reciprocal listing when submitting to directories or are they essentially the same as the free listings? I normally skip reciprocals as it clutters my blog, but if it makes a difference a couple high PR ones might be worthwhile....

 

No, it just means you get less benefit from the link. And the directory owner gains a backlink (even if it does only carry little weight). Most directories (that probably aren't worth submitting to anyway) will accept your site if you provide the link back. Always go with free or paid submissions.

 

No benefit for anybody using reciprocal links.

 

As a directory owner i removed the option from all of my directories.

As a submitter i dont submit using the reciprocal option.

 

I'd have to agree with everyone so far... recips are useless...

 

Make the decision on the quality of the directory and what a reciprocal will do for you. If you get boosted to a more focused page or a page with more "real" traffic the recip will probably be worth it. I'll trade a reciprocal link if the other site is going to send me some traffic.

If the other directory isn't going to send me traffic then I take the free option.

 

I would agree with the comments for the most part that recips are not a viable way to get links. The exception would be if that pr 7 or 8 site is offering you a recip to your pr1 site. Then take it, but that is unlikely to happen.

 

I believe some directories give you nofollow link if you are submitting without reciprocal... But there arent many...
Recips are useless...

 

Well I just submitted to a PR5 Directory using the Recip option. I just made my website a week ago. I don't have much knowledge of SEO yet. So Yea I figured I would give it a shot. I am trying to get as much traffic as possible.
Here is my site if anyone wants to give me any suggestions:

ww.computerfasternow.blogspot.com

 

Hasn't the issue of reciprocal linking been discussed by Matt Cutt's of Google at some point?

 

ok I will put my 2 cents in here IMHO yes recipricals are useless unless you use the 3 way reciprical where as site a links to site b which in turn links to site c etc................

 

Yes Jamie, he has. For the good of this thread - Matt Cutts has stated and possibly incited this may well be one of the reasons directories using a particular script have been punished by Google. Would be interesting to see a member of that scripts team to make a comment on this, however, I strongly suspect they won't.

 

Reciprocal are not good in any way as most of the search engines especially google is so much against the idea!

 

Thanks for clearing that up as I wasn't a 100% certain.

 

i think reciprocal link is good for keep heigh pr nad long time...what you say bout it?

 

i think reciprocal is good only if you are getting good traffic & pr from it.