Reciprocal links are links that are exchanged between two or more websites. For instance, Site A will give Site B a link so long as Site B is giving Site A a link in return. Reciprocal linking has become automated with great software programs, making the job much easier. Unfortunately, reciprocal links are thought to be devalued by search engines because of these automated programs. The ease of automated reciprocal link exchanges has resulted in sites exchanging links with hundreds of other sites that are not relevant. By way of example, you might find a legal forms site exchanging links with a celebrity fan club site. If you are reciprocal linking, you might discover that your URL is appearing on link partners' sites that are nothing but a hodgepodge of uncategorized links, with dozens and dozens of links per page. Having your site appear in these reciprocal link page collections does not necessarily add rank or value to your website.

In contrast to reciprocal linking, the benefits of one-way linking are becoming well known. Without question, one-way links are the most powerful method of boosting your topical authority online because these types of links are considered a "vote" of popularity for your site. In a way, this vote of popularity is untainted because it is not obtained with the "bribe" of a return link.

Since they have lasting value and in the case of free links, since the site giving you a one-way link gets nothing in return, one-way links can be more difficult to get than reciprocal links. It's worth the effort in obtaining them because they pay off in securing solid long-term search engine ranking results.

There are several ways to obtain one-way links. If you're willing to spend some money, you can buy permanent, one-way links from various online brokers and forums. You can build permanent one-way links through the use of pixel ads, banner ads and other forms of paid advertising.

Spending some time submitting your URL with keyword focused titles to the directories is another effective method for getting one-way links to your site. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of directories which offer free submissions. The problem with directories is that they are becoming so backlogged that it can take months before your link appears. I think that directories are becoming so commonplace that one-way backlinks from them will eventually become devalued, just like reciprocal links.

Another fantastic way to get one-way links is through article submissions. Article writing can be a time-consuming process but one that will reward your site for years to come. Best yet, article distributions are generally free. Since writing and submitting articles can become time-consuming, many online marketers grow weary of their article marketing efforts after they have submitted a couple of dozen articles.

If you want a combination of the ease of directory submissions and the long-lasting effect of articles, blog submissions are the best way to go. Blog posts do not take as long to write as articles, yet blog entries (or comments, where allowed) can be more informative and flexible than the brief descriptions you are allowed to give with directory submissions.

The general rule is that the directories will give links to your home page only and will not link to the interior pages of your web site. The beauty of articles and blogs is that you can create one-way links to your interior web pages instead of just the home page.

It will take some work and effort, but if you want to give your site long lasting value, use the various techniques that are briefly discussed in this article to build an arsenal of valuable one-way links. One-way links are, in effect, the lifeline for your web page.