Link Farms?

[karadawn]

There seems to be some arguments between a few people over what exactly a link farm is. One website owner offers a "link exchange network" where each member submits their site, then does a "copy and paste" of all links in the network. Each member must then create a page on their domain name that is a specific name and link it from their homw page. They claim they are only "supporting eachother", but isn't this the deffinition of a "Link Farm" according to Google? The website owner says no and has argued her point (also saying that she contacted Google personally and Google said it was fine, but of course had no records of the emails to or from Google), while a trusted friends of mine in the SEO industry have stated this is in fact a classic example of a link farm.

Who is right? Should other be involved in this "network of links" ?

[cbp]

If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck and smells like a duck ... then it probably is.

also saying that she contacted Google personally and Google said it was fine

I doubt that very much.

IMHO, any scheme or system of linking that is not of use to the visitor to a site = link farm.

CBP

[internetbasedmom]

Yes, I have received a cease and desist letter from someone operating one of these links programs. A couple of my members discussed the program on my forum and determined it to be a link farm. These are the program details:

There is a program where a group of website owners (the group is defined by their status as mothers who work from home) can participate in a type of link exchange program. Here's how it works (I use XXXX to
protect the program's identity):

1. Participants are to create a subdirectory on their website and name it XXXXX
2. They must upload the HTML provided to the root page of that directory
3. Then participants are to link to the page, using
http://www.yourdomain.com/xxxxx/ and not
http://www.yourdomain.com/xxxxx.html or
http://www.yourdomain.com/xxxxx.asp
4. If members do not post the HTML page as instructed, they will be deleted.

The HTML provided is links to and site descriptions of all the program participants.

Ummm...walking like duck and talking like a duck sounds just about right to me.

Alice

[bhartzer]

According to about.com's Jennifer Laycock, a link farm is a

"A set of web pages that have been built for the sole purpose of increasing the number of incoming links to a web site. This is done in order to increase link popularity and search engine rankings."

Here's the definition:
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...ne%3Alink+farm

[internetbasedmom]

Yeah, I've seen those definitions that Google picked out. Problem is, they pick out definitions that don't seem to know about the actual "FARMING" aspect. They are just talking FFA stuff and the like.

When I think of "farming", I think of producing plenty of potatoes or tomatoes or whatever...and replicating the same product over and over with the same thing. That makes me think of a "farm". An FFA page doesn't necessarily do that...they are trying to be sneaky, but they aren't really "farming" anything. Does that make sense? I wish there was a more industry-wide definition.

The other problem is with the definiton that about.com provided...it says "INTENT" is important. Unfortunately, when it comes to search engine algorithms, INTENT means SQUAT. Algorithms cannot determine motive...so like CBP says...

"If it walks like a duck..."

Enough out of me. I would love your expert opinions.

Alice

[hal]

Hi guys,

What I would like to know is why everybody is picking on the poor, innocent duck today? If you have ever seen a farm pond -- maybe even one next to a tourist restaurant or in a park -- and watched innocent little kids feeding the ducks and having fun, then you might see an element of "charm."

Indeed, wild ducks even take that charm a big step further, and actually work hard for their livings.

There is no "charm" or effort in FFA or link farms. That is, in fact, perhaps the easiest way to detect them.

Now, if you happen to "smell a rat"... Ah! Well! Then you may have something there. (Usually you only smell sewer rats.)

Hal

[karadawn]

Thank you all for the replies so far! I'm still interested in hearing more views on the subject, and of course Alice's reply from Google.

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by Hal

What I would like to know is why everybody is picking on the poor, innocent duck today?

Dear WPW members:

A concerned citizen brought this thread to our attention. Please regard this as a formal "Cease and Desist" request - we will regard any further negative comments about ducks as a cue to begin action against the posters for defamation of duck character.

Sincerely,

The Society for the Protection of Duck Reputations

Now, if you happen to "smell a rat"... Ah! Well! Then you may have something there. (Usually you only smell sewer rats.)

Dear WPW members:

A concerned citizen brought this comment to our attention. Please regard this as a formal "Cease and Desist" request - we will regard any further negative comments about rats as a cue to begin action against the posters for defamation of rat character.

Sincerely,

The Society for the Protection of Rats

[Rocky Moore]

I am building a business directory. It is simple a list of contact information and on some entries a more detail discription of thier business. Do you think that search engines would consider the business directory a link farm? If so, any ideas to avoid this?

[minstrel]

1. No. Unlike a "link farm", a business directory (or other internet directory) is categorized in some logical and discernible fashion according to common content or topics. There are numerous valid and reputable B2B directories or directories of other categorized internet sites (e.g., DMOZ for one, Jayde, Andilinks) - none are penalized by search engines.

2. What does this have to do with ducks or rats?

[glengara]

So where would a reciprocal links directory fit, a valuable viewer resource or a links scheme designed...?

[cbp]

So where would a reciprocal links directory fit, a valuable viewer resource or a links scheme designed...?

IMHO, it should.

You only have a reciprocal links direcory for one reason --> to boost your google ranking. Google Guidelines say "Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank" ... what does that say to you? How smart do you think Google has got a detecting his?

There is nothing wrong with a page of links that are of use and value to the visitor to your site. There is no wrong with reciprocal linksthat are of use and value to the visitor to your site.

CBP

[glengara]

* There is no wrong with reciprocal links that are of use and value to the visitor to your site*

So how would categorising that page suddenly turn it into a "links scheme"?

You are no doubt aware many believe quite the opposite, that it is the categorisation that turns a sow's ear into something quite different.

[cbp]

So how would categorising that page suddenly turn it into a "links scheme"?

Absolutely no idea. Google is getting smarter at detecting "link schemes" ... there is probably a line in the sand, but just where that is, is a judement call each webmaster hs to make to stay under the radar.

As I have discussed many times - I NEVER exchange links.

Surely, exchanging links is purely for boosting PR.
Google say build sites for users .... so every link you add should be to benfit the user. Its just how smart to you think Google is getting at detecting this ?

CBP

[7thDsites]

We at LinkageXpress.com, linking people since early 2000, have gone by the guidelines that a link farm is basically defined as - a page consisting of a wide variety of non-related links - your viagras, casinos, mortgage refinance, etc... that ultimately have nothing to do with your site nor are they of any kind of value to your site visitors.

Keep your links page a 'resource' if people are going to visit it provide something of value.

It's also a good, better safe than sorry, practice to have a couple/few links on your 'resources' page that lead to related beneficial sites w/o the need for reciprocation. If you have a financial related site give a link to like the SEC or some other federal related finance type sites. Doing this can potentially show the SEs that you are providing a resources page rather than a link pop boosting recip arrangement.

[cbp]

Just had a thought .... wouldn't the amount of time people spend cooking up these link schemes be better spent developing good content on the site ... then the links will take care of themselves.... isn't this what the search engines want us to do? .... don't you think that the search egines will be developing their algorithms to reward this?

[grey_skinned_boy]

Many years ago, way before link farms and people getting hot under the collar about search engines getting smater, sites often used to join web-rings - collections of sites on a similar topic.

Some sites would be pure information, some commercial, some personal viewpoints, a real mixed bag.

The web-rings relied on everyone pasting exactly the same code onto every site (for navigating next or previous in ring, etc.).

This was definately of use to site visitors, but would this be penalised by the search engines now?

(PS - what's with the dates on this forum? Somebody's response, to a question in 2004, is dated 2003)

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by grey_skinned_boy

The web-rings relied on everyone pasting exactly the same code onto every site (for navigating next or previous in ring, etc.). This was definately of use to site visitors, but would this be penalised by the search engines now?

As far as I know, they're not penalized.

But I would dispute that they are or ever were useful to site visitors - the problem with web rings is that they are "non-peer-reviewed", i.e., anyone can paste the code and once you do you're in, good site or bad site. At least when a search engine works well, it filters out the bad ones.