Another way of link exchange's scam is to make your link hidden from search engines' spiders. The link can be hidden by putting it inside javascript, redirect it to a php or asp process page, instead of plain 'a href' HTML code. Using CSS (cascading style sheets) also can trick your eye, which make link appear to be correct, but in fact it is redirected to another way around before it go to your web site.

Meta Tag also can be use by selfish web masters to hide link. Actually it is not hide link, but instruct search engines' spiders to ignore any link on page. So spiders will not consider link as a point of importance of other page. The meta tag use for this action is "nofollow".

As a way of precaution to increase your link popularity (and PageRank) by link exchange is you have to make sure:

1. The directory which link is located is not restricted to any spider (robot). On web browser's address bar type http://www.websitetocheck.com/robots.txt. Check restricted directory.

2. Always check source code, make sure link is directly pointing to your web site by 'a href='http://www.yourwebsite.com' rel='nofollow'

3. Check those links in weekly or monthly basis, if link which is pointing to your web site is missing, delete their link on your web site.

4. Check meta tag of page and try to find ' meta name="robots" content="nofollow" '

3) Writing articles, and submitting them to Ezines, and article directories, which are than picked up by webmasters looking to add content to their own web site, which will get you tons of one way backlinks. You can also find web sites that are related to yours, and ask them to publish your articles. When writing these articles make sure they are related to your web site, so that link will appear more relevant to your web site's theme to search engines.

4) Write a unique testimonial for products, or services, and put a link to your URL in it. Many webmasters will accept deal because this will cause more visitors to buy their products, or services. If they decide to publish your testimonial you'll get a free backlink to your web site. Before you write testimonial make sure you understand product.

5) Participate in forums that are related to your web site's subject, which also allow you to link to your web site in signature, make sure to read rules first though. They will send you visitors that are interested in your web site, and will provide a related backlink to your web site.

6) Anytime you first start a web site, add a new product or service to your web site write a press release about it. Submit your press releases to news sites such as PRWeb. Make sure that press release is attention grabbing, and unique, this will make other webmasters add press release to their web site.