Google webmaster guidelines clearly mention that link exchange is not a good SEO practice and can get our sites penalized. Still people use this as an SEO practice. Even we have link exchange forum on DP which I was using tell a few days back. I'm sure people use many other bad practices as well and don't totally rely on geniune SEO method which is described in guidelines. What do you guys think about that?
Having a few link exchanges won't get you into trouble; it can even happen naturally sometimes. Here's an example: you create a Twitter account, and then you add your website URL into the profile. Then, you go to the website and post a link to your Twitter account. The things will change when most of your links come from link exchanges; Google will penalize you for doing that.
If one site links to your site and you link back the "vote" of both links is neutralised. Bit like a draw in football, no one wins
Some link exchanges are natural, such as when a company owns two websites and they link into each other. However, gaining too many links via link exchange can be deemed bad practice. For example, if a site has 100 inbound links leading into it yet the site links back to 80% of these sites then Google will deem these links to be unnatural which means that you are more likely to be hindered than gain any benefits from them. Also, as mentioned earlier, link exchanges generally won't benefit you to a great extent unless the page on your site which offers to outbound link has a much lower PR score than the page offering the inbound link to you. So, if a page that has a PR score of 4/10 links into your page which has a 1/10 score then obviously that will give you more benefit than the other way around.
Not all link exchanges have negative effect. As other members have mentioned, it can happen naturally. t is link buying that you have to be wary of. Hope that helps. Have a good day!
There are actually hundreds of SEO Methods to choose from which can work with your website - that also depends on your niche. It may be a combination of two or multiple methods. Regarding penalties or using link exchange...Some website owners nowadays are not being threatened by those penalties, instead they try each and every method which they think is the most effective strategy to drive traffic to their websites. You can try link exchange- there's no harm in doing so. If it works for you and you can see the result, then opt for it. But if not, better choose another more effective method! Good luck! Watch your earnings explode - risk free - Free 47 minute Webinar explains all - visit http://hbbacademy.net/real
We know that lieing is very bad, some of us do tell lies because they help us in that particular moment. I am not telling we have to tell lies but we can lie if the lie brings good to everyone. what i mean to say is just doing little bit link exchange won't hurt your site at all..I know.
It is unnatural link exchange that is being penalized by Google if you get some natural link exchange it will not be having any bad effect on your website. One should not buy links in bulk quality it will be having a negative effect on your website according to the new Google updates.