I've written previous articles about linking, one or two of which have been specifically about practice of requesting and accepting links from anybody and everybody. However, I've never been armed with any 'hard evidence' with which to support my plea for some sensible thought about way in which some people handle their linking practices. This time around, I have this little offering from Google, people who are responsible for whole 'PR' caboodle.

"How is PR effected if you have text links on a page that is irrelevant to website? Links from a non-related site will still pass PR, but will have little or no effect on SERPs. Too many of these might even have a negative effect on SERPs. Remember, PR matters when all other things are equal, but that is never case. You are much better off getting back links from a relevant PR4 page (and site) with targeted anchor text than getting back links from an irrelevant PR6." - Ref: http://www.prlookup.com/faq.htm

There you go. You may not have heard it here first, but it is out of 'the horse mouth', so to speak. I don't know how long this particular piece of information has been available at Google for all to see (I don’t spend much time in Google’s ‘support’ pages) but it's there now and I hope that it becomes common knowledge very quickly.

To some it may not be a revelation. It won't be of any great concern either, because like many, they have always been a little particular about 'relevance' of websites from which they accept or request reciprocal (or incoming only) links. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about being 'tight' or 'mean' about linking with lower PR websites. I have always agreed to link with any website that has relevant content. Provided website has same (or related) subject matter, I don’t care about PR.

1. Offer other web sites free content to post on their web site. Include your link on all of your content. The content should related to your web site because it will be in front of your target audience.

2. When you visit a web site you've enjoyed a lot, write a review for site. Write about benefits you gain from web site. Tell them they can publish it on their web site if they link to your web site.

3. Allow other people to publish your e-zine on their web site. Include your web site's ad and link in each issue you publish. This may also help you increase number of people that subscribe to your e-zine.

4. Market your web site as a free web book. Design your web site with a title page, table of contents, chapters, etc. Just allow other people to give away web book by linking to your web site.

5. Give your visitors an instant article directory. Tell your visitors they can instantly add a free article directory to their web site by linking to yours. Just place your ad or banner ad on top of article directory for your main web site.

6. Allow other web sites to use your discussion board for their web site visitors. Just have them link directly to discussion board. Include your web sites ad or banner ad at top of discussion board.

7. Start a members only web site. Tell visitors what's in your members only site and what it costs to gain access. Offer them a free membership if, in exchange, they link to your web site.

8. Offer your visitors a free sign up to your affiliate program. Pay them commission to sell your products or services. Just give them an affiliate link to track their sales. People will link to your web site to make extra money.

9. Create your own award site for other web sites. Give winners a graphic or text link to place on their web site when they win. This will link your web site to theirs and draw more traffic to your web site.