NONE: ONLINE-ADS>> Reciprocal Linking / A Clearer Perspective
ONLINE-ADS>> Reciprocal Linking / A Clearer Perspective
Franklin Banker (altair2_at_ix.netcom.com)
Thu, 11 Sep 1997 21:00:30 -0600
I have been realizing something which needs to be said about the process
of reciprocal linking. We all come from different positions in web
related activities. Hence; Our understanding of it, and our need for
it (linking) are very different, depending upon our position.
Cliff Kurtzman comes from the position of the leader of an Advertising
firm (Tenagra), as does Bill Irvine (The Wolf Group). Bill said, "For
commercial sites, cooperative links may actually pose problems as we
need to make sure any linked content compliments that of our clients...
also, content on linked sites may change and end up conflicting with our
client's content."
I am beginning to see that folks who are in a "client" driven business
such as these have a very legitimate reason for NOT exchanging links.
I'm not sure it still couldn't be done successfully, but I understand
their position and thinking on the subject.
Larry Thompson of Fishing World (www.fishingworld.com) also has a reason
for not linking with everyone out there; He delivers information and
ads to a very unique "niche" which likely would have little interest in
a link list. Stand alone businesses really don't HAVE to do reciprocal
links.
There are many other examples I suppose, like UPS or Fed-Ex. Folks with
1,000,000 hits a day and unique products wanted and needed by millions
of customers and enthusiasts don't HAVE to share. They analogize that
it would send traffic away. Maybe they are correct, and maybe not. Who
will ever know? They will never try it!
I have a small business with a national, and even international
audience. I provide information and links to everyone interested in
website promotion. I link to the businesses which I feel provide the
best value for small to medium sized businesses, and individual
entrepreneurs. I search the web for valuable resources to add to my
lists, and while I do this, I may sign up as a referral agent or
reseller for some of those services. I offer Free and Fee services.
I build interactive forums, and I link to other companies' interactive
forums. I advertise for them, and they in turn, advertise for me.
About every 100 hits, someone buys something I am offering. It's a
perfect excuse for NEEDING to reciprocate. I thrive on exchanging
links. More than 50% of my humble traffic comes from links on other
sites. (I do not use unsolicited e-mail for promotion!)
So, I think reciprocal linking still works for those of us who share
information, and for "media" type e-zines that feature "hot sites" every
week, like (www.mrmedia.com), and Yahoo Internet Life. My sports site
was featured on Mr. Media a few weeks ago, and I have built links to his
site too (Bob Andelman).
If reciprocal linking disappears entirely, the web will look just like
the outside world. YUCH!!!! Fortunately, it still looks like "The Web"
in a lot of places, including mine! (hey, hows my suit look?)
Franklin Banker BBL Internet Media http://bblmedia.com
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