Definition: Link exchange

Link exchange is a practice of exchanging hyperlinks between two or more websites. The idea is that website owners agree to place a link to each other’s site on their own site in order to promote their mutual interests. Link exchanges can be arranged through manual outreach, through link exchange networks, or through automated scripts. The practice of link exchanging was once a common method for improving search engine rankings, however, search engines now penalize sites that participate in link exchange schemes, as they are often seen as manipulative and violate the quality guidelines set by the search engines. As such, it is recommended to focus on building high-quality, relevant links from other sites through legitimate methods such as producing valuable content and participating in relevant communities.