Google and Link Exchanges

I just recently looked at this page, and I was astonished to discover that apparently Google does not approve of link exchanges.

Looking at the date it was last updated 6-20-2011, so I wonder if this just occurred or has been in place.

Does this mean that we'll have to take down our affiliate links so that we don't get penalized by Google?

 

I think thats directed to linking back to bad links that like to use black hat SEO to improve rankings, so affiliates/paid advertisements may just be fine, then again it could be a move by Google to stop you trying to sell links on your sites...who knows, lol

 

Affiliating has no real positive effect anyway, I'd take them down.

 

Looks like they only penalize those that link to unrelated sites. But it wasn't real clear to me.

I think it does. Attracts more users..but then again, few actually scroll to the bottom of sites, so maybe I should.

 

Maybe so, but think about it a little more. For example, a computing forum and animal forum exchange 88x31's, members from each community isn't likely to be interested in the other.
The only way it really gets visitors is if you affiliate with a direct competitor, which means your members and guests will visit them too. You could lose potential or current members.
Imo it's only worth it if you affiliate with a forum that has more traffic than your own, so it's 2:1 visitors, not 1:1.

 

Just make sure the link exchanges are relevant to your site - such as having a link on the nav bar, or on the footer. Google just wants organic things done - and for people to follow their orders. People sold links in the past, and Google didn't approve.

 

You what else I think about this? I think Google wants you to use their ads, and not sell your own spots from the looks of things, since Google doesn't approve of link selling, and I heard they have a problem with other advertisers on the page.

I hate having my hands tied here, because it's definitely necessary for success to have Google on your side, but I should be able to do what I want with my site, and not have Google dictate it all.

Sorry for the rant

 

Your probably right, I know they penalise you if you display too many ads on one page, they do the same if you use another ad provider alongside google, so knowing them they are probably also blocking paid links as well

 

Yeah, I think that's what they said in the article I linked to. Really sucks.