It is an ongoing debate for years on the use of Reciprocal links and how they affect your website. Many SEO experts still use reciprocal links to boost their websites. Though it can have negative effects too. Here are some details that you must know before going for a reciprocal link for your website.
Reciprocal links or also
known as “Link Exchange” or “Link Trade” was a popular link-building technique
since the early 2000s. Their popularity has decreased greatly in the past few
years.
The way we use reciprocal
links today is drastically different from what it was 20 years ago. A link-building study
by Ahref, states that “developing relationships through authentic outreach, and
linking to sources without expecting anything in return, are the most proper
and natural ways to build reciprocal links.”
They found that only 26.4%
of authoritative domains are not using reciprocal links. This clearly indicates
that the use of reciprocal links is still common. Whether you are running your
business or are working for an SEO Company
chances are that you are using reciprocal links.
What are Reciprocal Links?
A reciprocal link is a
link-building technique that involves an agreement between two brands or
companies to exchange links with each other to boost the SEO and authority of
their respective websites.
Think of it as a quid pro
quo for SEO.
It does sound shady,
doesn’t it? Well maybe. Is it shady?
That depends on the way
you do it and how much you do it.
Are Reciprocal Links Beneficial for SEO?
The trick to increasing your authority and ranks (while reducing the danger of search engine penalties) is to focus on less hazardous ideas and tactics. Above all, your link-building strategies should improve your customers' online experience.
Rather than focusing on
SERP rankings and your website's link profile, produce high-quality content to
provide something of value to your visitors and consumers.
External links on your site can help with SEO, but they aren't the most important factor in your
site's rating.
Utilizing Reciprocal Links to Boost SEO
The entire experience of
your readers on your website are improved by linking to high-quality sites that
are relevant to your content. We all know that content is king, and providing
unique and relevant material to your viewers on a regular basis will earn your
site a place on the throne.
You may establish your
site as a reliable source of information by linking to high-value material.
Consider it a bonus if the other site reciprocates the link in this situation —
the content is what matters most.
Check the site's SEO
analytics before requesting reciprocation to make sure you're trading links
with a high-authority domain.
Here are a few things to
consider before you proceed with a link exchange:
● Could
the other website improve your traffic?
● Is
the website related to your niche or not?
● Make
sure that the other website is not a direct competitor.
A common practice for
building reciprocal links is the use of Online Directories. They mostly fit all
the above-mentioned points.
How Reciprocal Links Hurt SEO?
Natural reciprocal links
have some advantages, but if you don't apply common sense, swapping links might
undermine your site's authority and rankings. Here are four instances in which
reciprocal links can harm your SEO:
Penalizing Website
Reciprocal links, simply expressed, are against Google's Webmaster Guidelines.
If your website is
exploiting backlinks — that is, if you are attempting to influence search
results by exchanging links – you risk getting penalized by Google.
Decrease in Search Engine Rankings and Authority
If you link to external
sites that aren't relevant to your content, your page's site authority and SERP
ranks may suffer. Check the site's Alexa ranking and make sure the material is
relevant before linking.
In some situations,
referring back to low-authority sites is OK, but linking to these sites
frequently will not boost the authority of your own website.
Providing SEO Benefit to Direct Competitors
When you link to sites
that have the same target keywords and phrases as yours, your chances of
getting a reciprocal connection is slim.
As a result, you're simply
improving the SEO of your competitors, not your own. Link exchanges or
reciprocating links should take place between sites that have comparable material
and subjects, rather than between sites that are directly competitive.
Losing Trust of Search Engines
No SEO Agency or an
Independent SEO wants to lose the trust of search engines. Reciprocal Links can
contribute to this in two ways:
● Having
a large number of 1-to-1 links
● Using
anchor texts that are not related to the content
Final Thoughts
Any successful link-building strategy must include the development of industry contacts.
Linking to relevant, trustworthy sites is a great approach to establish authority
and cultivate partnerships with niche brands.
By linking to authority
sites, your site increases its chances of being viewed by the owners of those
sites, potentially leading to future links.
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