Discussions

How Do You Use Link Exchanges?

Posted by Bradley310 • 5/16/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic

I'm curious about the whole link exchange. I'm referring to here, on Technorati and the many other exchanges.

Do you exchange with anyone to boost your ranks or do you feel an obligation to your readers to be selective? I'm being selective by catagory and content, but if it's standard practice not to care, am I shooting myself in the foot?

User Comments

5/16/08

AmyOops

i base mine on whose blogs i actually like to read daily.

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5/16/08

ThriftShopRomantic

I don't do link exchange, per se.

I choose blogs I like to link to.

Sometimes they link back, but it's not obligatory. Usually they're in my genre of blog, too, so it's a good resource for my readers.

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1. 5/16/08
  
  DeadRooster
  
  Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me as well.
5/16/08

ekim941

There are three basic approaches.

1. You link to other blogs that are relevant to yours to provide your readers with information they may be searching for.

2. You link to blogs that you enjoy to give your readers an idea of who you are and what your interests are.

3. You link to every bit of flotsam and jetsam that will link to you in a shameless attempt to get popularity.

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1. 5/16/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  eKim, I bet you were the captain and QB for pick up football games when you were a kid.
  
  Told everyone their routes, including the fat kid "you go long!"
2. 5/16/08
  
  ekim941
  
  Gosh, all these years later, you still haven't forgiven me for making you go long
3. 5/16/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  well...I kept going long, I kept running into that old ford pick up truck, and I kept tearing up my Husky jeans...why should I forgive you?!
  
  Thanks for the weight loss, though! :-)
4. 5/16/08
  
  ekim941
  
  Thanks for denting my truck
5/16/08

crkian

I dont do link exchanges. Technorati was ruined with all the link exchanges that happened.

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5/16/08

Shiley

I've done maybe one or two link exchanges. I turn down money blogs too spammy and doesn't fit my personality. I do a link post if I really appreciate something that was done for me or if you gave me good advice or I place a link to the side so it is always there.

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5/16/08

mikeny07

I ask everyone if I can put their link on my blog. If they don't write back I don't do it. Some may not want their link on your blog.

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5/16/08

McAlpine

Can i put my link banner on your blog ?

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5/16/08

Bradley310

On my blogroll I only put those that are similar in content or that I enjoy. I wouldn't consider anything else I was primarily wondering about things as Technorati. I'll probably stay on it, but not worry about it too much.

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1. 5/16/08
  
  markstoneman
  
  So you're talking about adding people as favorites over there?
2. 5/16/08
  
  Bradley310
  
  Yes, primarily I was referring to adding people as my favorites there.
  
  Here I am selective because, as you say below, it is a community and placing 1000 friends on my friends list makes it feel like non of them are my friends. I don't have that many in real life.
  
  I don't hesitate posting a link for others here if I like the blog only, though.
5/16/08

markstoneman

I don't do link exchanges. I just add the blogs I like and some of them add me back. It all evens out in the end, but the whole point of the exercise is to build community and add value to your readers, not exchange links.

@ mikeny07: You don't have to ask anyone to link to their blog, although there is nothing wrong with being extra polite. I don't ask, unless, I've learned, I'm dealing with a family member.

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