Link exchange attempts

Your quite right in your sum up here John, but this debate has some serious underlying issues nevermind some astonishing misconceptions. Couple that with a hefty dose of misinformation and you end up with techniques and practices just like this and the average website owner having no idea if this is a good thing, bad thing or if they are indeed missing out on good opportunities.

Its Googles and the Search Engines fault as much as their benefit as they cannot openly tell anyone how the link profile algorithm works, that would give the game away, but suffice to say, your closing comment is exactly what they encourage and indeed want. Write interesting and knowledgeable material and the links will naturally occur from those who recognise it. Its not a short term thing, but anything worthwhile doing usually isnt!

in reference to: Earned Links Vs. Exchanged Links (view on Google Sidewiki)