Is link exchange really good for a store website?

[JackSmith310]

I know link exchange is very necessary for improving the pagerank. But is it really helpful for a store? If I have changed link with a famous superstore selling the similar goods as in my store and even more related top-quality goods, and the prices are lower. One of my customers who do not know that store until he sees the link on my site, and he visit that store and never come back. So is it good to change that link?

[Easy Cash]

Doesn't sound like it is a good deal - you said it yourself.....

"One of my customers who do not know that store until he sees the link on my site, and he visit that store and never come back."

[Emmanuel Inyang]

Originally Posted by Katie Byrd

Jack, I don't believe "link exchange" is necessary - just get incoming links using the anchor text that you want your store to rank for.

As far as linking out, I wouldn't link out to a store selling similar products unless it was an affiliate link. Link out to products that are complimentary to your own but not direct competitors.

I agree with Katie.

You can also try to focus on getting more backlinks if you don't feel like the idea of link exchanges. How about advertising?,i.e adwords and banner advertising, these might help get traffic to your site, though it won't increase your pagerank.

Just my thought.

[megaresp]

Originally Posted by JackSmith310

I know link exchange is very necessary for improving the pagerank

This isn't really true. A link from you to them and vice versa is probably far less useful than a one-way inbound contextual link (for reasons outlined below). Click the link and take a look at that article.

Originally Posted by JackSmith310

If I have changed link with a famous superstore selling the similar goods as in my store and even more related top-quality goods, and the prices are lower.

If the store is famous, and their site has great PageRank, you may benefit in SEO terms by exchanging links (i.e. if their PageRank overwhelmingly beats yours). But of course, if it's costing you business you need to decide whether it's worth it in the hopes of securing some link juice.

There are several ways they can scupper this for you...

• They place their link to you on an unimportant page on their site
• They can use robots.txt to have Google ignore the page containing your link
• They use the nofollow tag to stop PageRank flowing your way

If you're losing customers, it's hard to see how this benefits you.

Forgetting about PageRank and link juice for a second, it's worth considering why you're running this store any way. What can you offer potential customers that the superstores can't?

Most of us don't buy from the first online store we visit, and I can't help but wonder if what happened (customer found other store) would have happened anyway - even if you didn't exchange links.

[JohnMiller]

Hi

I am webmaster and doing 3 way link exchange with gambling sites,

If anyone interested, then mail me on my ID johndotseo24at@gmaildotcom

Thanks !