Link exchange - Positive value or thumbs down !!!

Links on the bottom of the page don't really get much attention by visitors. My theory is that these links can appear as paid links to Google, so I would avoid it unless you use rel=nofollow.

It's best to have a links page. Any follow outbound links on your homepage will bleed pr. You would be better bleeding pr from a links page. Anyway, it looks more professional, and I suspect this is the best way to avoid Google's penalty.

Regarding the original post....

Reciprocal links are fine providing that the exchange is with sites in the same niche. If your goal is to increase pr, then avoid it. But trading links with similar sites can help to improve your traffic. It's all about the traffic.

 

Make it a separate page. However if you are look only for few (5-10) exchanges, you can use homepage. It most suited for friends exchanges. Cause if you are participate people will not get that they can get link from homepage

 

Thank you very much for advices. It is great to get answer so quick. I will take action base on your advices. Ciao.

 

.....Think from the Search Engine point of view....How do you yourself..count those pages which when you comes to know are just to impress you rather than any rationale value to the general audience...They'll only gonna excuse you if they have not enough resources...or if they have to take a similar action ( in whichever form..from mild to ...) to million others......which seems a daunting task(!!!!)...
I am also fine with the SEO tips and tricks like intermingling links with the content .....to make it look more natural and exhange alongside....But How long this Seperate page theory stays...I think that's only time will tell...but in any calculated form there is no place for it..( if you leave aside directories or such format.. inclusion even in general websites) ...ISN'T IT!!!

 

I am thinking in terms of my visitors, not serach engines. I am listing some sites I am interested in. Somehow some of them will be exchanges. See nothing wrong with it. And yes...there is a value to the general audience.

 

Right ..Good/Rational reciprocal linking ( targeting humans rather than Search Engines ) can increase your SE rank significantly. But I think its good to mention in a line or more that why the particular link is here..Make it look natural....

 

I think that long as the exchange is related to your site and not a linkfarm with quality content there is nothing wrong from it.

 

I agree with you Seejje.......These are the right words....But most of the guys twist them according to their own interests....

 

I think technically speaking it is best to find like-minded areas of expertise/blogs and exchange links with them in a real fashion. Comment on each other's posts, etc. There are several sources on page ranking too, which indicated that blindly exchanging links will not increase your rank since it's unlikely that the traders will have high page ranks themselves; additionally, a high out-link count decreases the benefit for each site linked.

 

.org and edu and gov rank better only bcs they are crwled more often.