Links from global partners

[davidmill]

The company I'm working for has a large global network of legitimate business / community partners. Most are willing to link to each other with meaningful descriptions (almost like each having a mini directory of "other useful suppliers").

I know this "feels" like the kind of false activity from the dark SEO past.

But would it be a viable method now for all of the network partners to give each other an SEO / links boost?

Thanks.

David

 

[Community]

Hi David,

How would they be linked ( If possible could you indicate the location of the links, what anchors, what benefit this would give a visitor, linking out from a single page or sitewide ? etc )

I personally don't label things in the grey areas just because the industry has cast the last stone, I like to see it on a case to case basis. Some sites and some situations i think such practice can be warranted, in others it just looks spammy and offers little benefit.

My first gut instinct would be that if you "feel" like its spammy, then It probably is.

If there is some kind of benefit to end users/visitors and is executed properly in a non-spammy keyword anchor type way..........then i see nothing wrong as such with growing network authority and raising brand awareness.

 

[davidmill]

Thanks for the response.

Each would have a "Directory of Other Useful Business Sites". The benefit would be the "usefulness" of the sites. Each listing would have a Title, Category, and long description.

However, there may not be much difference between each site's directory.

Hmmm. Maybe they'd be better having a single, central, global directory? But then that would negate the benefit of links from multiple sites.

 

[Community]

I'd be dubious if a directory of sorts is required, with very similar directories on each site, in my opinion it would start to look like a private network of interlinked sites.

Even if it were a single page listing all the "useful business sites" I think you'd still fall foul if there is a reasonable quantity to list if its going to be the same across every site.

Nofollow could be used on external links, but again it would negate the real benefit, although "possibly" give an indirect benefit with diversification.

Its hard to say without knowing what your up against and the quality of the network overall. Tough call

 

[davidmill]

Yes, what you say makes sense. It would, in effect, be a private network of interlinked sites.

Of course, we might question what is so wrong with that since it's a legitimate resource. But Google sees things differently.