Links directory: is it worth it?

[Peter264]

Would there be any benefit or penalty for implementing a links directory with over 300 external links to websites that somtimes return the link? Or would it be more beneficial to simply ask for one way inbound links when gaining links? For example this section of this website: http://directory.flyawaysimulation.com/ This is their directory and most but not all of the sites in that directory link back to them. Your ideas, thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Jolora]

I might be wrong but I don't think reciprocated links have too much value, at least not in comparison with one way inbound links... I would probably focus more of your attention on those.

Many years back I did something similar via http://www.linkmarket.net/ (which makes everything much simpler by the way) and it worked out as quite a bit of time for not much return. I felt the biggest benefit came when I deleted my link directory on my site and noticed that some, many until this day, of the inbound links remained and actually passed a fair bit of juice. So there is some value in the process. That being said I would still focus on other strategies in the main.

[TellThemEverything]

It would depend on whether the sites are related to your subject. If you were linking to whoever would return the link, no matter the subject - penalty. If you were linking to other sites related to your niche, benefit.  Think of it from SE's point of view - they want to see sites that are experts on a topic, and that real people link to.  So, given these two scenarios the focus is important.

Of course, focusing on getting real people to link to you is FAR more important, so I wouldn't do either. Guest blogging for example is a far better use of your time.