A link exchange is when one web site offers to host a link from another web site on their own and vice versa.  Both web sites have to agree to swap links, then they go on to be displayed.  Link exchanges help build traffic for both web sites as search engines rank web sites that are linked to and fro higher than those with no inbound or outbound links.  Many people think link exchanges are out of date and that they are no longer necessary with the influx of search engine optimization techniques, but a good old fashioned link exchange can go a long way.

The first step to setting up a link exchange is to find web sites you want to link to. Check out the entirety of the web site, make sure it is a legitimate, resourceful site. Also make sure it is relevant to what you will be linking to. The surefire way to have a link exchange bite you in the rear is to link to a site that is not what it appears to be or does not have a true connection to your subject matter. From there, link to the web site on your own page.

Once you have uploaded the web page with the link you wish to use, send an e-mail to the webmaster of the web site and share that link. Ask if they would be willing to link to your web site, too. Now, you can wait for a response and if you hear none, decide if you want to continue hosting the link or not. In the long run, utilizing links even if the exchange is not returned is more often beneficial than removing the link but the choice is yours.

Inbound and outbound links always help boost search engine recognition and ranking.  However, unless you utilize legitimate links, you gain nothing from link exchanges.  Thus, simply throwing links on pages or linking to shady areas of the Internet does nothing for a web site.  Unless you take legitimiate link exchanges seriously, you will be wasting your time setting up links on your own.