Is link exchanging ok in 2015

[Direct_Ram]

hi

i wanted to check if link exchanging is ok and not considered as black-hat seo technique in 2015 if its used as part of a link building strategy, and what percentage of links can be used a from link exchanges.

[Mustansar]

Are you doing a link exchange to boost Pagerank? - Bad idea

Are you doing a link exchange because the traffic is likely to convert - Good idea

Are you doing a link exchange to boost your rankings - Bad idea

Are you doing a link exchange because it provides a relevant resource useful to your audience - Good idea

Most people that do link exchanges are using an outdated seo mentality from 10 years ago. They can't accept that things have changed and will continue to change. Links are still valuable (just look at how much referral traffic comes through relevant links) but Google is no longer a simple formula that is easy to trick. You need to be careful and make smarter business decisions. Not every link is a smart link but there still are many good opportunities.

[Alick300]

Hi,

No link exchange is not OK .

Thanks

[TheWebMastercom]

I agree with Alick300.  From how you have phrased your question it sounds like you are doing it purely for link building which Google doesn't like... at all.

[Direct_Ram]

hi thanks for your responses.

the link exchanges were to be for same sector related websites. We were going to offer no-follow links back to these websites.

the benefit was aimed at a couple things.

1 as they are travel related, people might find us in their links
2. the link juice will pass to us if they are do-follow

[TheWebMastercom]

If all links are no follow, you have no issue.

[Direct_Ram]

hi thanks for replying

so our linkout was to be no-follow from our domain to others. the link back was to be do follow.

[MarieHaynes]

I think that some link exchanging is ok provided that it makes sense for my customers and that it's not done to a crazy scale.  But, I wouldn't recommend doing it via a "links" page.  I think that in some cases if you can work the link into a blog post and your partner does the same, then this is ok.  But, if you're having trouble finding a way to naturally mention this website, then perhaps it's only a link that would be there for SEO purposes and not one you should pursue.

I have reviewed a large number of backlink profiles and it is pretty obvious when someone is doing link exchange just to boost their PR and conversely where there are reciprocal links there that just make sense.  If I'm a real estate agent and I recommend a particular house inspector and if that house inspector recommends me, there is no problem with that.  But, if I am recommending 100 house inspectors who are also recommending me then there's a problem.  Or, if I am recommending payday loans providers and casinos, then something seems wrong with that.