Linking to other Realtors - good or bad?

[Madtown RM]

In the past (when I was working for a broker who controlled all outgoing referral decisions), I never saw the point of linking to other Realtors on Facebook or LinkedIn, especially if we were working in the same market. Now that I'm my own broker and can refer business to anybody, I'm questioning whether I should be open to accepting friend requests from Realtors on Facebook and LinkedIn. I got two such requests today and have to admit I'm somewhat stumped as to how to handle it.

Does anybody have an opinion on whether linking to other Realtors through social networking sites is a good or bad linking strategy?

Apologies in advance if this topic has been covered before. I'm relatively new to the concept of SEO, just launched my site (sans IDX search for the moment), and don't want to mess anything up, especially after reading earlier this evening that massive linking between Realtors was a linking strategy that was happening at one point until Google found a way to recognize it and penalize people for it.

[Discover Davis Homes]

Jolenta - it is fine to accept friend requests from other agents in facebook, linked-in etc. I don't have a problem accepting them in my own market as well.

Looks like you were reading about excessive recip. linking which is something completely different.

[Madtown RM]

Good to know. Thanks, Carolyn.

What about a request for a reciprocal link with a lending company? I just got one of those too.

P.S. Just got done reading your blog itkeepsyourunning - so good! I wish I could write like that...

[Discover Davis Homes]

My website got up and running after the whole reciprocal linking thing happened so I've never had ANY recip links.

It depends on who is asking -- if you have a legitimate relationship with whoever is asking for the link - there is nothing wrong with it - the problem (in search engine's eyes) is when there is no relationship between the parties (or to the user of the website) and the links are there only to help each other out in the search engines. A good rule of thumb for anything on your site is does it enhance the user's experience - if it is good information for them than it is probably worth having on your site - if it is junk or garbage than don't.

Thanks for the comments about my blog. It is do-follow, so once (in my blog's case) you make 3 comments, the links are followed.

[tsteuwer]

Jolenta,

Be cautious of who you're reciprocating links with. Once you've established you're website, tons of people will want to reciprocate links with you.

[Madtown RM]

I've never done it before and I'm not starting now...especially not with this site! Allowing connections with other Realtors on Facebook and LinkedIn, probably not that big a deal. Although I'm still not sure I like doing it in my own market. Next thing you know, they'll probably try and copy my site!

[TrophyHomes]

2 Totally different things.

Recip linking from your website to theres- Is questionable. (you are giving them the traffic you worked hard for)
Adding them on linkdin and facebook as friends/colleges is perfectly fine and should be encouraged.

[Madtown RM]

Yep, nope, no problem. I've been making that distinction for a few hours now.

[JennSellsFast]

After the whole reciprical link agent to agent fiasco, I would advise against it through your website. Doing it on social networks is probable perfectly fine though.

[kevinkirkpatrick]

You guys can just do a guest blog post on each others blogs or you can write a blog post about them. If you can do a 3 way link that would be better though.