What is link Schemes?

[KLLC]

Hello Friends,

Today I am reading about link schemes on http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66356 there are a several ways how to avoid Google penalties and also talk about the low quality links. But I can't understand about  "Low-quality directory or bookmark site links" Is there he talked about low page rank, Alexa or something else?

[AlanBleiweiss]

Link schemes come in many forms these days.  Low quality directories are directories that are really just out there for people to get links for SEO value, and not really to offer high quality directory value.  Same with "bookmarking" sites.  Either they're really popular (like Reddit / StumbleUpon) or they're obviously just fake sites built for people to fake off-site SEO authority.

Link schemes can also include other scenarios.  Like getting links from a lot of very low quality sites - or even sites that have built some authority over time but are really just there for offering SEO links within crappy content.  Or where the content on those sites is so diverse as to cause the site to not have a cohesive topical focus.

And then there's "link wheels" - where one site links to another, and that other site links to a 3rd site, and that's the majority of links at least two of those sites have.

[SanketPatel]

I am totally agree with Alan.. In addition of Alan i would like to share my thoughts on "Low-quality directory or bookmark site links".  Before the google updates the directory works so most of SEO Companies built lots of categorywise & General Directory & Bookmarking sites so now in market there are lots of directory sites which are not good, in some cases it hurts also. Here is a good post on Analysis of 2,678 Directories Shows 20% Penalized/Banned by Google. Also most of directory site gives nofollow links & also directory dont gives much value in SEO. But yes we can do directory submission on such sites who have good PR & DA like yahoo directory, dmoz, etc. Same with Social Bookmarking.

Here is a good list of Directory & Bookmarking Sites : http://www.seomoz.org/directories. I hope this list would help you.

Hope i answered your question and if you need more help then let me know.

[DoRM]

Besides just avoiding low quality links the best thing to do is only do things you would normally to increase brand awareness.  Only go for quality links that will drive traffic to your site.  They will also help increase your rankings,   Link bait is also a great way to get people to link to your site and share your content too.   Have you looked into doing some Press Releases if you have news worthy things to talk about or quality guest blogging? They are all good ways that will not get you penalized by google.