The Other Search Engines

**o_p_center** · 04-13-2005, 07:47 PM

I swaped links with a directory and noticed that on the directory, they link to their link partners like this:

Code:

<a href="content/top-100-poker-sites-1065_a8" class="headerLink14" target="_blank">184. Top 100 Poker sites</a>

<a href="content/top-100-poker-sites-1065_a8" target="_blank" class="linkblack">www.toppoker.com</a>

Does it matter that the directory did not make this link:

Code:

<a href="http://www.toppoker.com>www.toppoker.com</a>

When a spider crawls through that, will it be able to recognize the link to toppoker.com? I am pretty new to this game, so I apologize if this is a very stupid question. I just heard from some SEO engineers that a linkback is not quality if it is not written in plan http://www.yoursite.com terms.

P.S. I am not toppoker.com, I am only using it as an example.

**WealthStream** · 04-14-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

When a spider crawls through that, will it be able to recognize the link to toppoker.com?

No, search engines won't be able to recognize a link that doesn't actually point to your domain. This link isn't doing any good to your PR.

**Mattd** · 04-14-2005, 07:51 PM

Yeh, I agree that redirecting links don't benefit your PR, bit does benefit theirs.

I used inadvertently used redirecting (as it was part of my CMS) when I first started my links directory for my site but the directories that I swapped with said that there spiders couldn't find the link and so refused to list me.

What happens is that the link points to a piece of code and a database that they have of links, which in turn redirects a person to your site. Spiders don't actually access this database and so never see your link.

MattD

**o_p_center** · 04-16-2005, 06:03 AM

Thanks for the information guys!

Do you consider such actions unethical or is it just part of the dog-eat-dog world of SEO marketing?

**Mattd** · 04-20-2005, 08:35 AM

With most of these directories, you shouldn't trade what I would call "valuable" links i.e. links on your front page so it shouldn't really be too put out if they don't use a direct link.

You may still get traffic from them if they are popular (I don't get alot from them) so you are not totally "screwed." Now that you know you can decide if you want to swop with thise that don't use a direct link.

As a side note, you can put your website in your signature which will give you another link every time you post.

MattD

**chrishirst** · 04-20-2005, 04:47 PM

It really depends on how the redirect from the jump page is handled, a 302 redirect can cause major issues with page "hijacking" and does not pass link-pop to the target site. A 301 is ok and should pass link-pop.