linking to other blogs

[michellek]

i recently convinced a client to add a blog page to her website. now, instead of writing her own blog, she wants to have her blog page consist of a series of links to other's blogs. so far she has given me 100 blogs in 2 categories to link to.

my question is - will google like or hate this? i'm inclined to think that the page will appear "spammy" if there is such a word.

[Feydakin]

Who cares what Google thinks when her "customers" will hate it?? You may as well put up a link directory for your client..

[imvain2]

There are many reasons why this wouldn't be a good idea.

1: The only thing that you can be guaranteed is she will be sending potential clients away from her website. Its like having someone walk into a bricks and mortar store and instead of getting them to buy something you help them to walk out the store and visit other stores.

2: You are not adding any real value to the website, rather you are taking value away.
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You are right in suggesting adding a blog is a good idea, it will give unique content that is updated.

[incrediblehelp]

Michelle as long as this page is useful to the end user this is what counts.

[espmartin]

That's when a great (as apposed to just 'good') service provider (you) will instruct a client
as far as what works and doesn't work in todays internet marketing.

Similar idea here, for example...let's say your client wanted her site done totally in flash.
Would you advice her against it as far as the SEO/accessibility implications are concerned?

[edhan]

Well, when it comes to linking with related topics, I do believe that should be okay as visitors will appreciate such links. Same goes when I visit sites that have related topic links, I get what I want to find, that is a good site link. I tend to bookmark them and comes back again.

[DoneInStyle]

Sounds like she wants a directory instead of a blog. So explain the difference and give her what she wants.

[blitzen]

Re-read IncreadibleHelp's comment again. It applies. "Michelle as long as this page is useful to the end user this is what counts." It sounds like your building for SE's, not users.

Why not put the RSS feed? This might cut down losing the customers. The customer will leave only if the feed looks interesting enough.

Consider putting the linked-to blog in a frame with your header in the top frame.

Sounds like she wants it all just to fall into her lap - to reap the rewards without the elbow grease. The great majority of businesses (websites are a business) with this attitude fail.

By the way, we have 2 links pages (one for directories and one for relevant websites) and our logs show that people rarely, if at all, go there. I think the ones that do are SEs and webmasters looking for a link exchange. So this G preference of linking is for the birds - it really doesn't help website "content". I'd consider it black hat because linking is actually built for SEO, not the user.

Good luck!