How To Evaluate Potential Link Exchange???

Jewel · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 11:44 AM

Hi,

SBI has a feature where they will match you up with complementary sites to exchange links.

Apparently I came up for a few people this weekend as two people contacted me about link exchanging with them...they were matched with me through SBI's VE, they said.

My alexa is bouncing lately between 727,000 and 945,000 or something like that and I have a PR2..not much but something! My first page went live 2/28.

The first one told me I can choose the page on his site I want my link placed on...as well as the url to my site I want it pointed to so I can deep link it. We matched for the term camping tents...and while I don't yet have tent info on my site I eventually will have an extensive amount of info on tent types, choosing them, etc., and of course sales.

He has an Alexa of over 10 million and PR0...his site has been live since April I think...also, while my site is heavily content, his is not. His pages are very watered down and I feel like it is mostly a retail site rather than content site.

The other one has an Alexa of over 22 million, PR0 and also registered in April.

So these sites are really about the same age as mine but I definitely feel I have better rankings. According to SBI's tools I have about 438 backlinks...most of them from here

I am slowly building links.

So my question is...should I do it to get the links? Will it hurt me? Will it help me?

I am leaning towards no at the moment...but I don't know if that is the right way to go.

Thanks for any advice!!! (If it helps to post the links so you guys can see the sites, let me know)

LizK · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 12:23 PM

Jewel I hope someone jumps in because I have similar questions regarding VE. The sites that have contacted me over the last couple months also seem watered down or salesy (or just down right crappy, I'm sorry to say), and I didn't even bother to check their Alexa or PR... I just put VE in general on the back burner because I almost feel like I can get better link exchanges on my own by emailing sites or blogs I think are relevant, worthy, and obviously non-competitive.

lisa · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 12:30 PM

I would go with your gut on this. I'm not as much concerned that the PR is 0 as much as I am that the content seems shallow. As you probably know link exchanges have been devalued by the search engines as it is so no point in exchanging with a site where the content is iffy. My gut tells me decline and to be honest, I decline almost all of the VE exchanges (even when my site was new and had a lower PR) because the content just didn't seem quality.

I think VE is a good idea but just choose your partners carefully. I think out of the hundreds that probably contacted me when I was an active VE user, I may have only accepted 3 or 4. I would much rather you have 2 or 3 good, contextual exchanges then 30 exchanges from low quality sites.

Now that my site has a healthy traffic flow I don't do link exchanges anymore but when I did, I was very very selective on who I chose to swap with. And with the engines devaluing link exchanges these days, I think it's important to keep them to a minimum anyway.

Jewel · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 12:36 PM

Thanks Liz and Lisa.

I will go with my instincts then.

I have been contacted in the past and never accepted. One wanted to put me on a page with over a hundred other links!

But when I got these two I started to question and doubt myself.

When you say Google is starting to devalue links...does that mean they are not placing as much emphasis on sites having incoming links...or on link exchanges. Do I not have to worry about searching out incoming links anymore?

I really haven't made a big deal of it yet but I had planned to in the future.

alpha7 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 12:37 PM

I would not penalize them for being newer, I would definitely go by their content. The one that you said is "watered down" would be a definite no for me. But, if the second one has good content and seems to be working hard, I would consider them. You never know, they may pass you in content and rank one day. If you do exchange links, I would keep an eye on each site to make sure they stay on the up and up. If they turn out to be shady, you definitely don't want their links on your site. But if you approve of their content, it shouldn't be an issue in the beginning.

Oh and make sure they don't put you on a broken link page.

lisa · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jewel

Thanks Liz and Lisa.

When you say Google is starting to devalue links...does that mean they are not placing as much emphasis on sites having incoming links...or on link exchanges. Do I not have to worry about searching out incoming links anymore?

Yes. If you see some quality sites and you think they will be a good fit then fine but I wouldn't spend your days looking for hundreds of link exchanges. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the engines penalized for excessive amounts. (Whatever that number would be.)

Without knowing the specific SE rules of course it's hard to tell and I'm only making assumptions and guessing. But we do know that link exchanges have been devalued for sure. Now, how much and the specifics I guess will always be unknown. All I'm saying is just choose your partners wisely and don't be afraid to be selective.

Jewel · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 01:12 PM

Thanks again. I will think about the second site but I am leaning towards no there as well. I don't know how to put it about him...he is definitely trying, I can see that....but somehow it seems to be missing the mark. It is not a bad site...just not great either.

I don't know...maybe I am being too judgmental.

If I don't have to worry about links, then I will most likely politely decline. I will give him another look just to give him a chance though.

Jewel · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 01:23 PM

Okay....I just went to look a little more at the second site, the one I said wasn't as "salesy" and I noticed that he has a store as well...I hadn't seen that before.

Anyway I clicked into the store and it brought me to his hunting and outdoor gear store...which looked a bit familiar in its setup...so I went back to the other site and went to his store..and wouldn't you know....it is the same prefab store.

You know...be set up within minutes..over 18,000 hunting and fishing items..same company. I went to the prefab dealer's website to check it out.

I don't think they are the same person...I think it is just a weird coincidence...I guess, that two different people with two different outdoor sites who use the same prefab store contacted me within 24 hours of each other for a link exchange.

Well I guess it is Halloween week!

lisa · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008, 01:58 PM

LOL, yeah it's probably a popular turnkey store solution that a lot of those type of sites are using.

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