Dirty Tricks: Reciprocal Links

[Najoba]

For those of you who are trusting souls, like me, here is a word of caution: keep a very close eye on the reciprocal links that you are supposed to have posted on others' sites. Check them frequently. It seems there are a significant number of webmasters who are removing their link partners'links on the sly. This gives them a non-reciprocal back link, which might benefit their page rank, but certainly not yours. It would be wise to make sure your links haven't "conveniently disappeared" from your link partners' websites.

[sfowler]

You might also just check that it has not been made NOINDEX! That also happens.

[crankydave]

Good advice from both. I use a link checker by Trellian. Just enter the URL of your link and validate. Stores them for you so you only have to enter once. It also validates size of the link to make sure it's not been rendered unreadable. I run the validate about every other week as a check. I also hand check links occaisionally. Found out recently that one of them had removed all links to the link derectory etc.

Dave

[google junky]

sfowler,

I have to say that it had never crossed my mind when checking a site out for NOINDEX: before deciding it's ok to exchange links. I will be adding that to my list of mental observations. Thanks for sharpening my mind towards that.

I had seen sites take a link off after a link exchange, but never thought of someone using a NOINDEX.

[Artyom]

For those of you who are trusting souls, like me, here is a word of caution: keep a very close eye on the reciprocal links that you are supposed to have posted on others' sites. Check them frequently. It seems there are a significant number of webmasters who are removing their link partners'links on the sly. This gives them a non-reciprocal back link, which might benefit their page rank, but certainly not yours. It would be wise to make sure your links haven't "conveniently disappeared" from your link partners' websites.

I agree it is a dirty trick, but what if I'm checking my traffic logs and can't find a single click from my reciprocal partner and even a link to my site?;-)

Apart of this thread topic by time I'm having more and more suspicions about reciprocal linking efficacy:-(((

[scialom]

You might also just check that it has not been made NOINDEX! That also happens.

How can I check it?

thanks,
Assaf

[coder]

You might also just check that it has not been made NOINDEX! That also happens.

How can I check it?

thanks,
Assaf

Check the source code.

[Kenai Alaska]

You might also just check that it has not been made NOINDEX! That also happens.

How can I check it?

thanks,
Assaf

Check the source code.

Also check the robots.txt file.
Check to see if the pages are indexed in the search results.

• PAGE TITLE: should reflect the page contents.
  PAGE DESCRIPTION: should reflect the page contents.
  KEYWORDS: should reflect the page contents.

Good reciprocal link partners are out there but are getting harder to find.
Those pages built with linkmanager can be ok if the above three areas are addressed, typically they are not.
Rule of thumb:
If you want good links, you need to give good links in return.

[sfowler]

I just have a nasty mind, that's all!

[Najoba]

sfowler...I am not sure where this would be in the source code. Could you please elaborate? You have made a very good point...but I'm not sure where to look for this.