I am occasionaly getting emails from websites as follows:

"Dear Webmaster,

My name is Name Removed, and I run the web site Vacation Homes:

http://www site removed

I recently found your site http://www poconohomesource com and am very
interested in exchanging links. I've gone ahead and posted a link to your
site, on this page:

http://www site removed com/linkmachine/resources/resources_real_estate_north_west.html

As you know, reciprocal linking benefits both of us by raising our search
rankings and generating more traffic to both of our sites. Please post a
link to my site as follows:

Title: Vacation Homes
URL: http://www site removed com/
Description: Search ######## to find vacation homes and condos

Once you've posted the link, let me know the URL of the page that it's on,
by entering it in this form:

http://www site removed /linkmachine/resources/link_exchange.php?ua=_ua9&site_index=MjA5ODMzNQ%3D %3D

You can also use that form to make changes to the text of the link to your
site, if you'd like.

Thank you very much,

Name removed "

Shoud I run or walk away from such proposals?

The link page seems to be nothing more than a link farm and I can't even see how it ties into the persons website.

Whats the story with this link machine stuff?

__________________
Dave Kovaleski REALTOR
Pocono Pennsylvania Real Estate Agent
Pocono Real Estate
Pocono Homes
Lake Wallenpaupack Real Estate

Just delete them. It's an old technique that some people still use - automated link exchange software. Possibly dangerous to link to, and the links coming back are worthless.

__________________
Eric Bramlett

PM Me For Guest Blogging Opportunities!!!

Austin Real Estate | Austin Texas Real Estate | Austin Condos

Ok, I thought so, Thanks!

__________________
Dave Kovaleski REALTOR
Pocono Pennsylvania Real Estate Agent
Pocono Real Estate
Pocono Homes
Lake Wallenpaupack Real Estate

Yes stay as far away from link farms as possible.

__________________
LandWatch.com - #1 source for land and rural retreats
Land for Sale

I get like 4 - 6 a day and they all end up in my trash!!!

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Las Vegas Real Estate <> Real Estate Networking <> Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

I get quite a bit of these in my spam box, but I can't say that I have ever taken them seriously. But, that being said, I probably would've if I opened it...or at least questioned the email.

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Andy Scherer
Senior Loan Specialist
Mortgage Trainer

I hope you are still monitoring this post. As marginal as the value of reciprocal links are, they are not worthless.

Far better advice would be to individually evaluate each request for a reciprocal link. Summarily dismissing reciprocal link requests from someone who uses a scripted application to automate their reciprocal links pages will keep you from forming partnerships with those who use good SEO practices, and would help you get inbound links.

If the site makes reciprocal links only with other real estate sites or related businesses, home inspectors, appraisers, movers etc., it will not hurt to link with them.

__________________
Eric Bramlett

PM Me For Guest Blogging Opportunities!!!

Austin Real Estate | Austin Texas Real Estate | Austin Condos

I delete the automated e-mails too.

Thanks for the link Eric, that is an interesting article. I really like his flow chart.

__________________
Ryan A. Martin - Windermere Real Estate / Whatcom Inc.

Your Bellingham real estate professional specializing in the listing and sales of Bellingham condos. Also check out my Anacortes real estate website for information about Fidalgo Island and Anacortes, WA

The quote above is the right answer. ....I know of several sites that use link machine for its other abilities to save time with many of the other "necessary task" like link checking for reciprocal link backs etc.. sure... you guys that don't want to use automated software need to go up against the seo pros that do and see who wins.