Anyone with knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) realizes that good, solid inbound links from reputable, relevant sites are required for ranking highly in the search engines. They lend an air of trustworthiness and quality to your website, which is critical to being part of the Google country club. To do anything unseemly to acquire these links is asking for trouble – you can be penalized or even completely blackballed.
What are link farms?
They consist of sites that link to other sites just for the purpose of linking and inflating a site’s apparent popularity. Further, some link farm products identify potential reciprocal link partners and offer to exchange links and create directory-like link pages for Web sites.
The problem is that most of the sites are random and not relevant to the linkee at all. This is a red flag for Google, and when they detect link farm spam they take action by removing the offending site from their index.
What’s wrong with link farming?
It is an unfair practice and an affront to searchers and to sites that follow the rules. When you conduct link farming, instead of linking to related information of value to your visitors, you’re instead sending them to sites about totally irrelevant topics, sometimes even adult content. Partnering with companies that supply those links is a bad idea because they don’t have your best interest in mind.
Why is it still in place?
It remains a mindset stemming from a decade ago – when good quality natural links were more difficult to cultivate. Link farm companies cropped up to provide auto-registration, categorization and link page updates. Now, the search engines have a higher capacity to index more sites; thus, link farms are unnecessary. They still exist for the purpose of influencing search engine results and inflating PageRank.
The companies that operate these schemes call themselves reciprocal link management services and claim that they provide direct networking. They also tout themselves as an alternative to search engines for attracting visitors to websites. Some people apparently like what they hear, because many of these companies have a stable customer base.
What can happen if you participate in a link farm?
Search engines, particularly Google, offset the link farm spam pages by identifying specific characteristics associated with them and then filtering those pages from their index and search results. It may take time, but it will most likely happen to you if you’re involved in false linkage.
What are some good linking strategies?
• Make sure your links are relevant to your site’s topic.
• Only allow links that are good quality and have a decent PageRank. Search engines judge you by the company you keep.
• Use links with relevant keywords, and place them in your content.
• Don’t take part in any offers to trade links unless you’re familiar with the site. Delete any unsolicited emails that want you to pay for automated link generators.
Link building is essential for ranking in the search engines, but it can be a daunting task. Web.com Search Agency’s SEO strategists are experts in the art and science of link building and will take the lead in helping you boost your online presence, your traffic and your bottom line.
Tags: link farm, link farming
