3-Way Link Exchanges vs Link Trading

[Trikkur]

It seems that 3-way link exchanges are frowned upon in the SEO industry, but how much does that limit out personal link trading. Am I allowed to talk to friends of mine and obtain links to Site A by giving them links from Site B + Site C, etc. This seems like a legitimate way to give and receive links to me. It's not like I am giving anyone low quality links from an off-topic; I just want to limit the number or reciprocal links, build a larger link profile, "trade up" to a higher PR link, and the list goes on.

I can't expect I'm the only person that thinks this is a fine way to get links to my sites. Has anyone experiences negative results because of this or noticed a distinct lack of positive results?

[Trev]

As long as sites A. B and C aren't going to show as your sites (different IP's, private register info etc.) and you aren't doing off-topic, there isn't really a problem with doing this.

[Guerreiro]

And that is the main problem with having a network of mini sites. They tend to show as your sites.

[Trev]

I wouldn't build a site without making sure it is separate from other sites for that very reason. You never know what you want to do with them later.

[Guerreiro]

Good advice Trev.

[Hazo]

This advice is pathetic. Why would you undertake any practice in which you have to hide from? Also, do you really think having a different IP and private Whois will change anything? I think not.

[Guerreiro]

Well Hazo, it does it is just one more small thing to check off. I am talking a hypothetical HUGE network of minisites. Not 20.

But I agree we are digressing from the question asked and that was that 3-way linking was not good.

With this is tend to disagree. A high quality link, gathered 3-way or reciprocal style is a good link.

[Randy Ray]

Link to who you want to. Don't buy into these link building myths though:

• Reciprocal links are bad
• Off topic links are bad
• Links to my own sites are bad

A 3 way link exchange becomes problematic when it becomes a link scheme. Most webmasters I know involved in 3 way link exchanges are trying to "fool" Google into thinking they have a bunch of one-way links. That thinking proceeds from the myth that one-way links are better than reciprocal links.

[Hazo]

Link to who you want to. Don't buy into these link building myths though:

• Reciprocal links are bad
• Off topic links are bad
• Links to my own sites are bad

A 3 way link exchange becomes problematic when it becomes a link scheme. Most webmasters I know involved in 3 way link exchanges are trying to "fool" Google into thinking they have a bunch of one-way links. That thinking proceeds from the myth that one-way links are better than reciprocal links.

This post is of the highest quality. Read this post and think about it. Don't just read. It has a meaning.

[Strider1973]

With backlinks you generally have two main goals

1) Increase site relevance -> rank higher in SERPs
2) Get direct traffic from these links

If you want to achieve just goal 1), then the above might be great advice.
If you hope to get real visitors coming directly to your site through a link on another website, then such backlinks might make sense anyway.