Reciprocal Links

Last Updated on Wed, 04 Oct 2023 | Affiliate Marketing

A reciprocal link, as the name implies, is where two websites link to each other. A few years back, reciprocal links use to be a good way to gain inbound links to your website. I use to spend hours e-mailing other webmasters asking them if they wanted to "swap links". In essence, you were voting for each other's websites, hoping that both websites would receive a boost in the search rankings.

In recent years the value of reciprocal links has declined steadily. There is still some debate over whether or not reciprocal links can improve your position in the search results. Many SEO's now believe that instead of reciprocal links counting as a vote for each other, you are essentially canceling out each others vote.

For example, if website a links to website B, and website B also links to website A, the votes wouldn't count. Figure 5.1.3.b below illustrates this:

Figure 5.1.3.b Reciprocal Link Example

Figure 5.1.3.b Reciprocal Link Example

I don't spend much time pursuing reciprocal links and will delete many of the requests that I receive. I will occasionally grant a reciprocal link request, but only if the website has good content and is topically related to my website.

Continue reading here: Link Popularity

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Readers' Questions

  • Anja Burger
    How to get reciprocal links?
    4 months ago
    • Getting reciprocal links refers to the practice of exchanging links with other websites. Here are some steps to get reciprocal links:
    1. Identify relevant websites: Look for websites in your niche or industry that are authoritative and have a good reputation. These should be websites that you would be proud to associate with.
    2. Contact website owners: Reach out to the website owners or webmasters through email or their contact forms. Introduce yourself and explain why you would like to exchange links.
    3. Offer value: Explain how your website can benefit their audience and why it would be a good fit for a reciprocal link exchange. Highlight your unique content, resources, or any other value-add.
    4. Propose a link exchange: Clearly state your intention to exchange links and suggest the placement of their link on your site first. This may include suggesting a specific page that is relevant to the content of their website.
    5. Follow up: If you don't receive a response within a few weeks, you can send a polite follow-up email as a reminder. Be professional and courteous in your communication.
    6. Monitor your links: Once you've agreed to a reciprocal link exchange, periodically check if the link is still active and pointing to your website. If you find that a website has removed your reciprocal link, reach out to them to ask for reestablishing the link or consider removing their link from your site.
      7. Remember, while reciprocal links can be beneficial for SEO and referral traffic, search engines like Google value natural and organic link building. It's important to focus on providing quality content and building genuine relationships with other websites rather than engaging in excessive reciprocal linking.
    • darcy
      What is reciprocal link?
      1 year ago
      • A reciprocal link is a mutual link between two websites to help increase the link popularity of both sites. It is also sometimes referred to as a mutual link or a link exchange. Reciprocal linking is a common SEO (search engine optimization) technique and is still used by many websites today.