ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ASKED about “EXCHANGING LINKS”
Many times you are asked to post another blogger’s button and/or URL in your Blog Roll or on your site. That’s often referred to in blogger speak as “Linky Love”. But sometimes, a commenter unknown to you will ask to “exchange links”. Sounds shady or evil to you? WHAT does “exchange links” mean? Essentially, when you exchange links it means that you have placed another website’s link on your web site, usually on a links or resources page, and in return, the other person places your link on his site. Sounds simple.
Exchanging Linking (or Blog Buttons)?
You exchange links with another for two reasons essentially. First, when others see your link they may visit your page–so you increase your traffic. Secondly, incoming links boost search engine optimization if they are the “right” links.
Should you Exchange Links?
Yes
- If the requester has a similar website to yours. To verify, click on the URL provided by the commenter (it’s easy to do in WordPress.org when you are deciding whether to approve the comment). Be wary of foreign URLs.
No
- If the website is dissimilar to your own. For example, if you are a blog for Women over 45 it doesn’t make sense for you to be posting links to baby products unless you write a lot of articles for Grandmothers.
- It is much better not to exchange links, in any situation that looks sketchy too you. Follow the old advice: When in doubt, leave it out.
Some Etiquette
- Please, if you do exchange links, keep the links there. Posting links just to enter a contest and then taking them down afterwards is well…just mean.
- If you do run into something that seems shady. Terminate the link. Contact the other owner and let them know that you have ended the link partnership and they can feel free to do the same.
UPDATE: Exchanging links is now considered a bad idea. You should link to another website when you want to reference material that you are writing about. It your content is paid, all links should be Nofollow.