Link Etiquette

[ResaleBroker]

For many reasons links and/or link pages get moved. Quite often when this happens link partners, for one reason or another, aren't notified. This can lead to bad feelings and/or dropped links.

The idea has come up of adding a "Sticky" in the "Link Exchange" forum to outline/remind members of "Link Etiquette."

What do you think "Link Etiquette" for moving links should be? Should link partners affected by the move be notified via PM or email? Should members post link changes in the forum? Both? Something else?

[SEO Jason]

People should probably be informed, but sometimes it doesn't happen for a multitude of reasons. I never thought it was a big deal if someone did it for a legitimate reason. Like say you had one huge links page and then you made a directory, like if you go and check your backlinks, obviously you'd just see the page with the directory and click on the appropriate state page. I dunno, i may be alone in that opinion.

[Jenny Barclay]

Good idea Jeff, but.........
I have over 11.500 links to look after on a mass of sites.
I started with a single link page on most sites and now have nearly 400 pages in order to keep down the number per page to maybe 30 links.
Am adding at such a rate that I have to keep creating new pages, that obviously are PR0. Most webmasters absolutely reject the idea of a link from a PR0, even though the site maybe has 600 new links and there is a direct link to the new link page.
I therefore offer a link on e.g. a current PR4 page and then move to a new PR4 after PR update.
Even in real estate have had to create 50 pages.
I should have thought about it before I started, but as none of our sites had a single link before March, and the link idea was thrust upon us, I just got stuck in.
The only thing that I did think of before the last update was to create a load of pages so that they would get PR, and I was then offering empty pages with PR4.
Duplication is another problem with webmasters who have 30 or 40 sites to offer. If one creates a similar page on several sites, all but one will get zapped.
A spider that crawls the site rather than the page is the answer.

[ResaleBroker]

People should probably be informed, but sometimes it doesn't happen for a multitude of reasons. I never thought it was a big deal if someone did it for a legitimate reason. Like say you had one huge links page and then you made a directory, like if you go and check your backlinks, obviously you'd just see the page with the directory and click on the appropriate state page. I dunno, i may be alone in that opinion.

If I was checking links manually and came across what you describe then I wouldn't have a problem either. Unfortunately, not everyone checks their links manually.

[ResaleBroker]

A spider that crawls the site rather than the page is the answer.

I imagine that many people take into account what page their link would be found on when deciding to exchange links or not. This would be the page their spider crawls to validate the backlink. If your spider crawled the entire site, instead of the predetermined page, a deceptive link partner could move your link to the "Back 40" and you would never be the wiser.

[ResaleBroker]

I thought I would revive this one more time in hopes of getting more feedback.

Any more suggestions, concerns, thoughts?

[mtgman]

Jenny

If you have only be getting links since March and have 11,500 where did you get them and how would I go about getting more links sooner as well?

I should have thought about it before I started, but as none of our sites had a single link before March, and the link idea was thrust upon us, I just got stuck in.

[Jenny Barclay]

Firstly, the links are across several sites.
Secondly, seek out web designers in the chosen theme, as they might have many sites to trade with.
If a guy has 50 sites to trade with and I have 11 that fit, that is quite a few links in one hit.
Don't know what the record is in one day, but obviously included a big hit; maybe 800 in one day.
Have declined many for the various reasons quoted here on the Forum.
Have deleted 1600 on real estate alone.

Create empty links pages before each update, so that you are offering PR to those who don't have a clue on the mathematics of the G algo. It's like a candy for a youngster, it keeps them happy and shuts them up.
Don't link with those who ask for PR.
Just keep working at it, until you are No.1 for allinanchor and then move on.
Best of luck with your efforts

[VRI]

"I therefore offer a link on e.g. a current PR4 page and then move to a new PR4 after PR update"
"I never thought it was a big deal if someone did it for a legitimate reason. Like say you had one huge links page and then you made a directory, like if you go and check your backlinks, obviously you'd just see the page with the directory and click on the appropriate state page."


Jenny and Jason, I disagree. When you move a link it's value toward SERP's starts out all over again so if I've been linking to you from a decent PR page and you move mine in three months then in my opinion you've gotten three months for free.

I think that the vast majority of webmasters would reject any request knowing that there link would be moved in three months when the new page had PR. I certainly would ask you to call back in three months or reciprocate from a similar page.

The other thing is that I don't feel that it should be my responsibility to navigate your directory to find my link when my spider kicks it out as bounced. I, as well, have over 1000 partners on different sites and the task would be very cumbersome to say the least. I feel very strongly that the absolute least one might do, if many links were gathered at one forum, is to post a message indicating that you had moved to a directory structure and to PM for it's new location.

* Disclaimer: I use link structure & cache dates to value links. I'm always happy to link to PR0 pages that are well supported.

Thanks Jeff!

[kensmith]

"I think that the vast majority of webmasters would reject any request knowing that there link would be moved in three months when the new page had PR. I certainly would ask you to call back in three months or reciprocate from a similar page."

Would agree on this. I have actually placed 2 links for a couple of sites in the past when the PR issue came up. This way I only have to delete one link and the other never moved.