Reciprocal Linking Is Not Completely Dead

Reciprocal linking is dead! Wrong! It’s just different now. One of Google’s secret algorithms looks for classic signs that a page is full of reciprocal links and checks the links to see if links exist on the other side. Google knows that pages that are full of reciprocal links are simply webmasters trying to increase search engine positioning. However, I have seen some links that were reciprocals carry some weight with Google. These are called trackbacks in wordpress.

A trackback occurs when someone posts a link to a wordpress blog from a wordpress blog. Wordpress pings the site and lets them know they have been linked too. The site receiving the link, automatically posts a trackback comment on the post receiving the link with a link back to the other post. This in effect creates a reciprocal linking structure. If Google has stopped counting all reciprocal links, this would nullify the incoming link. However, they have not.

If the original link is surrounded by text, has good anchor text and is one of only a few links Google does not count that link as a junk link according to my experience. I don’t believe Google gives as much link juice to the link, but the link is not completely junked either.

This is the only reciprocal linking I do for my clients. I do think other reciprocal linking is a waste of time. I look for great blogs that relate to my client’s site that are dofollow blogs and have decent page rank. If I find a post that knocks my socks off, I write an article about the subject and link to the post. After the trackback is in place I have a great link that is most likely not going to be erased.

Its always a good idea to leave a trackback in place to maintain a good relationship with the other blog owner. Hey, you “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”.

2 Responses to “Reciprocal Linking Is Not Completely Dead”

1. Everett Avery says:

   November 12, 2008 at 4:00 pm

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2. American heart association diet plan says:

   June 13, 2009 at 5:51 am

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