OD and reciprocal links

Everything to do with using your own website to advertise your rental property. Design, usability, hosting, getting listed on the search engines, optimising your site, pay-per-click, etc, etc.
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Ben McNevis
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OD and reciprocal links

Post by Ben McNevis »

I guess most already know this but I've only just noticed:

Although OD will show a link to your own website provided that you provide a link to them, the link that they provide is tagged:
"rel=nofollow"
so it is ignored by search engines.

In the interest of fairness, I've just changed my links to them to have the same tag.
Cheers, Ben
www . scotland-cottage.com www . scottish-cottage.com


Visiting Glenrothes? It's one of your Fife-a-day
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pambon
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Post by pambon »

I was unaware that the link has to be reciprocal. Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere.
I have always given my website and/or apartment name
in various places on my listing, pointing out that more info can be found there so hopefully it is working round it.
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GRL
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Post by GRL »

We have never had a link on our web page from them but should we ever be forced to I now now what to do :wink:
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kevsboredagain
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Post by kevsboredagain »

I can understand a large listing site not wanting their search results polluted by unknown, unverified, personal 3rd party websites. However, doing the same on your own site is simply cutting off your nose to spite your face. The disadvantage to your own SEO will be way higher than any perceived affect you believe you have on Owners Direct.
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Ben McNevis
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Post by Ben McNevis »

Maybe it doesn't have to be reciprocal any more. It was under the old OD before the HA invasion.
Cheers, Ben
www . scotland-cottage.com www . scottish-cottage.com


Visiting Glenrothes? It's one of your Fife-a-day
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Ben McNevis
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Post by Ben McNevis »

kevsboredagain wrote:... However, doing the same on your own site is simply cutting off your nose to spite your face. The disadvantage to your own SEO will be way higher than any perceived affect you believe you have on Owners Direct.
I can't imagine it would have any effect at all. Why do you think Google would penalise?
Cheers, Ben
www . scotland-cottage.com www . scottish-cottage.com


Visiting Glenrothes? It's one of your Fife-a-day
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kevsboredagain
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Post by kevsboredagain »

Google won’t penalise you but you are doing it yourself. If you search for “Owners Direct blab bla” where bla bla are some terms related to holiday rentals, you’ll find mostly OD pages at the start but then quite a few privately owned sites. These private sites are being listed because they mention Owners Direct in some way. By telling Google to ignore the link, you remove this chance of being found for search a search.
 
Clearly this will have a very minimal effect on your business but the only person such an action harms is yourself. It will also have a tiny effect on the SEO of Owners Direct, as external links boost their relevance but again, if you list on OD, you also harm yourself once again.
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