Step 5 - Create A Linking Policy The idea of having a linking policy is to let webmasters know what you expect from a link exchange before they contact you or try to add their link. It is designed to save potential link partners time. Below is an example linking policy you can copy and paste if you wish, you can always edit it to your own liking. If you use Reciprocal Links Pro a linking policy is automatically included with the program. Do not be silly with your linking policy, if you are too fussy you will scare link partners away. You can include what you are looking for (or not looking for) in a link exchange. Maybe you run a family audience site and don't want to link to gambling or adult sites, mention that in your linking policy. I am sure we have no need to tell you that you should not have silly Google PR exclusions in your linking policy. New sites can get very busy very quickly, just because a site is new does not mean it is not worth linking to, in fact quite the opposite, what do all new webmasters do after building their site? They promote it, make sure you are in their link section as long as it meets the quality and visibility standards. It is a good idea to pass potential partners via your linking policy before taking them to the "add link" section of your directory, that way if you have to reject them they cannot say they did not see your policy. Example Linking Policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before you add your link to our directory, please make sure your site meets our linking policy below. Our site links primarily for traffic, we do not link only for rankings. We understand that all visitors leave our site at some point and we choose to send them to quality link partners as well as back to the search engines. We advertise ALL our link partners clearly, visibly and in an organized way. This is how we will advertise your site, all we ask is the same amount of exposure in return. Our link section is featured on every page of our site from the main navigation menu. Your link section must be advertised either from the navigation menu or clearly on your pages. Sorry, we do not exchange links with sites who only feature their reciprocal links directory page from a tiny text link at the bottom of their pages. That wouldn't be a fair link exchange. We advertise our link section with the word "Links" so ALL surfers know our links are available. We will not exchange links with sites who hide their link section behind the words "Resources", "Partners", "Link To Us" or anything similar. The link to your link section should say "Links", "Links Directory", "Web Links" or something equally as clear. Our link section is a highly categorized directory. We make it easy for our leaving visitors to find your site. We expect the same or similar in return. Sorry, we do not exchange links with unorganized or uncategorized link sections. We do not link with sites that feature Warez, Hacking, Cracking, Pornography, Hatred, Racism or any illegal content. Our site is general viewing, sorry but we cannot link to adult sites. We will never remove your link as long as our link is active on your site. If we ever move your link we will inform you by email. We check all our reciprocal links regularly using our links program. Link cheaters need not apply. We look forward to linking to your site. Please choose one of the following options: I Am Prepared To Exchange A Quality Link With Your Site My site does not meet your linking policy, what now? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The first link there would point to your "add link" page (more on that in the next step), the second link you could link to our site so we can educate some more webmasters. Step 6 is "Make It Easy For Your Link Partners" Click Here