Reciprocal Linking Evolved
Most people who know anything about SEO know that link building is a major factor in high rankings. And most of these people also know that how you get these links almost just as important. Back in the day the “I’ll link to you if you link to me” strategy was the best way to gather links. Now we have much better ways to build links such as through viral campaigns. A lot of people will even go so far as to say reciprocal linking is dead. So why would any one bother seeking out reciprocal link opportunities?
The answer is targeted traffic. Swapping links with relevant Web sites can bring in a good amount of traffic to your site. Linking isn’t just about building your PR, it’s about driving traffic. Of course the types of sites you choose to link with are very important in getting the traffic you want. Seeking out similar or complimentary sites will help bring in people who are more likely to be interested in your content. For example, if you sell shoes you may want to exchange links with someone who sells clothes. These links open up another doorway into your site for people who may not have found you by searching.
Ultimately, high rankings in Google don’t make your site successful, convertible traffic does. If sharing links with compatible Web sites brings in the traffic you need to be successful, then that is the strategy to go with. Reciprocal linking will never die, it’s purpose has just become more focused on the user not the search engine.
