Google Has Updated Their Guideline On Link Exchange Schemes

[admin]

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=66356&query=link+exchange&topic=&type (http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=66356&query=link+exchange&topic=&type)

The guideline on Link Schemes over at Google specifically related to link exchange was updated last night (we've been checking the guideline page twice daily hoping for a revision or clarification). The original guideline stated:


Examples of link schemes can include:
Link exchange and reciprocal links schemes ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")
Google updated the guideline either late last night or sometime today to read:

Examples of link schemes can include:
Excessive reciprocal links or excessive link exchanging ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")

They have added the words "excessive" (twice!).

To state any link exchange is an example of a "link scheme" in violation of G's guidelines is obviously overbearing. It seems now that link exchange is acceptable as long as it's not "excessive".

Our question for you.. how do you all define "excessive"??

[The Old Sarge]

Our question for you.. how do you all define "excessive"??

It may be hard to define but I know it when I see it. :)

Take the site that sells only a handful of items ... say, 10 or 12 different pieces of custom made jewelry ... with hundreds of links on two or three "Links" or "Resources" pages, and many of those links do not pass G's magic "relevency" test. I'd call that excessive.

Or the sites where the total number of links or the "directory" out-compete the actual site itself.