The Rights and Wrongs of 3 Way Link Exchanges
Becoming more popular as a way to get more exposure to your website, 3 way linking originated around 2007. The problem is that 3 Way Link Exchanges can be confusing so it is easiest to think of it as triangular linking.
The way that 3 way linking works is that website A links to website B, website B links to website C, and website C links to website A. The reason for this linking structure is that Google and the other search engines see all of the links as one way links, so it doesn’t appear you are trying to move your website up the search engines with excessive links. This seems to work for a short period of time, at least until the search engines run their algorithms and get suspicious.
The thing that has been emerging lately is a new kind of 3 way link exchange, where you don’t even know you are being involved in a 3 way link exchange. Where it used to be that you might want to link to a relevant subject website, and then they would link to yours, now they make it appear that way, and the next thing you know you are linked to a site that is just a 3 way link site.
The bad thing about this is that the search engine algorithms may pick this up as manipulating and not only move you down the page, but might cite you for bad behavior and you end up with less exposure than you had before.
Many of the webmasters are not that crazy about 3 way linking, primarily for this reason. They believe in good, old-fashioned search engine optimizations, and there is something to be said for that. If you are legitimately coming out with a good website that is search engine optimized, you don’t have to worry about manipulating your positions.
The other thing about 3 way link exchanging is that there is typically a monthly fee that goes on and on. Some think it is worth the $50 or so to participate in the 3 way link exchange, and sometimes it is if it drives that much in business to your site that you would not ordinarily get.
The most dangerous part of 3 way link exchanging is if you don’t want to be affiliated with a 3rd party link that has a bad reputation, that is not relevant to your site, or worse, may be a lewd or questionable site that would actually steer people away from your website by association or calling your trustworthiness into question.
When it comes to 3 way link exchanging, always be sure you know the sites that you will be 3 way linking to, or it could hurt your online business instead of help it. There are rights and wrongs to everything in life and a wrong move in 3 way linking could get your site suspended from the search engines.
Maybe the webmasters are right-build a good website that is search engine optimized and you will work your way up the search engine results without the cost or hassle of 3 way linking.
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