Do ISPs Frown on Link Exchange Requests?

As if link building wasn't already difficult, WebmasterWorld reports that some ISPs now consider link exchange requests to be spam. In the most extreme case, one ISP even threatened to "terminate the account" if the member sent anymore link exchange requests. As a result, some business owners are highly upset.

Part of the problem is that the definition of what is or isn't "spam" has become blurry. The typical viewpoint is that any unsolicited email - including a link exchange request - is spam. But is that definition really fair? If that's the case, then any time I send an email to check on a distant relative or to reach out to an old friend who lives thousands of miles away, I would technically be "spamming" my loved one.

In an effort to combat "junk mail" ISPs such as AOL have gone to extreme filtering efforts and have made reporting spam as simple as the click of a button. An unfamiliar email address is now all it takes to get your email sent to the spambox.

While many webmasters send mass emails to potential linking partners, others send sincere requests to carefully chosen, relevant sites. Should those webmasters be punished for sending emails to establish possible business contacts? Many business owners don't think so. "Currently there is a witchhunt against anything remotely identified as spam," said one WebmasterWorld member. "This is getting in the way of legitimate commerce."

One solution would be to send your link exchange request via an online form, if possible. Another strategy would be to participate in a link exchange program, such as MyLinksNetwork.com, which would automatically trade your site's link with members of the program, skipping the email process altogether.

It's been advised that if you do decide to send link exchange requests via email, take time to manually send and personalize each email. Make sure each email is meaningful; explain the mutual benefits of reciprocal linking. And, above all else, make sure each email is CANSPAM compliant. You might find that the extra time and effort result in more positive responses - and more reciprocal links. If nothing else, says WebmasterWorld member Brougham, "The recipient at least knows that you have put in some thought and gone to some trouble to make contact - it separates you from the herd."