I have 10 sites that I am starting up at the same time, all in the same category with different content. What is the best way, in your opinions, to link them all together? Do I link each site to the 9 others? Do I not do this and try to avoid the reciprical linking thing by linking each site to say 3 or 4 random ones that do not link back to the original site? Any input would be great, thanks!
Are they all going to be hosted on different Class "C" IP's (different hosts, not just IP address)? Google's idea behind PR and backlinks is that a link is a "vote" for a site - not one person "voting for their own" so google talks about they can detect and handle this in their patent. Google also has the ability to check whois and see who owns a site - and while I do not think they do this automatically, I believe they either do when they have reason to believe two sites are related or just assume two sites linking to each other from the same host are related, and discount or ignore the backlink from helping SERPS. In any event, I believe it would be better to have site "A" link to "B" and "B" link to "C" without a reciprocal link.
more effectively, you could also interlink them with other partner's site. if you have 9 sites, the other 9 would be owned by partners. so a > b > c > d > e > f >..... where you own a, c, e, ... and different partners own b, d, f, .... this way there is no linking back to your own site because you link to different partners who link to your other site. more info can be seen here multi-way linking
Yes neof has it down right. Linking from all your sites to all your other sites, is not a good idea, especially if they are on the same class IP address. Google will wisen up after you do it quite a few times and start banning sites. Brad