I’ve been working hard for the last couple of months on client’s sites, so I apologise for the delay in posting. However something grabbed my attention quite recently. The guys over at Enquiro are answering SEO based questions from some of their readers and this post caught my eye.

I basically think that they are wrong. Lets imagine if you will, that you are Google.

Now the thing you most hate in the world are people trying to bust your ranking equation by gaining links that they are not entitled to. Bearing in mind that they have a gazillion (ok I made that number up but you get the idea) PHD researchers, don’t you think you would be able to find the pattern for a links page? Hmm lets try:

• http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=inurl%3Alinks.html&btnG=Search&meta=
• http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=inurl%3Aresources+-site%3Aedu&btnG=Search&hl=en

Those two should do to get you started. Now compare those to this Christmas Blog. Which links to a search engine robot, would look spammier? (yeah i know i made up a word). More to the point which links do you really think are actually working to increase rankings and drive traffic?

I apologise for the rant, but really do think that this had to be said before more unsuspecting webmasters go off on a reciprocal link goose chase.

This post comes with a caveat: I am NOT saying don’t get reciprocal links. I am saying that Paid One Way links (when they are done correctly and below the radar) are more effective at helping rankings and driving relevant traffic.