"Useful Links" Thread

[BB_TX]

\"Useful Links\" Thread

The thread titled "Useful Links" suddenly disappeared with no explanation as to why. Was there something that was a violation of policy? It is common to provide a link to another web site when posting. It did not appear any different on this thread except that there were numerous links posted. None of those appeared to be competing web sites to TBN. I did not start the thread but did respond providing additional links. Just want to make sure if I did something wrong so as not to do it again.

 

[Hakim]

Re: \"Useful Links\" Thread

Hi Bill,

No one did "anything wrong" exactly. I sent a PM to the originator of the thread with an explanation of why I deleted it.

Here's what I said...

The problem with "links" is that they ALWAYS go bad, get stale, don't work. In very short order, some of the sites will go down, or move, or whatever.

Yes, major manufacturers will be around, but likely 30% to 50% will need adjustment. And that is not something that anyone can do from a message body.

On top of the stale/broken link problem, Google and other search engines often "punish" a web site with lots of links in it. They sometimes feel it is a "link farm" that exists only for generating Adsense revenue, which isn't the case here at all.

Since we are listed in the one or two results on every search engine, we don't want to do anything that would cause our rankings to fall.

So, while I like the idea in concept, I don't think this is the correct place or format for links. Sorry.

Individual links are fine. But a single message that keeps adding links would quickly become a mess.

Thread deleted. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: \"Useful Links\" Thread

It wouldn't be hard for someone to create a webpage with all those links -- then just have a link set to that page.

Don't take this as me volunteering to do it.

 

[BB_TX]

Re: \"Useful Links\" Thread

Hakim - Thanks for the explanation. Makes a lot of sense. And I feel better now.

Gatorboy - Someone sent me a message about the links. He is considering doing exactly what you mentioned.

 

[Hakim]

Re: \"Useful Links\" Thread

Gatorboy,

Link farms are always problematic. We have seriously considered this idea before, and even developed the software and beta-tested various methods and formats.

It always comes up as way too much effort for no compelling benefit, for us anyway.

Once you get hundreds and hundreds of links, you have to scan them constantly for dead links, irrelevant links, links to commercial sites, etc etc etc etc etc. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

One policy we always adhere to on our own sites as well as for various clients we advise is this --- don't provide ways for people to leave your site. You got them there, why encourage them to leave? Sorry.