There seems to be some arguments between a few people over what exactly a link farm is. One website owner offers a "link exchange network" where each member submits their site, then does a "copy and paste" of all links in the network. Each member must then create a page on their domain name that is a specific name and link it from their homw page. They claim they are only "supporting eachother", but isn't this the deffinition of a "Link Farm" according to Google? The website owner says no and has argued her point (also saying that she contacted Google personally and Google said it was fine, but of course had no records of the emails to or from Google), while a trusted friends of mine in the SEO industry have stated this is in fact a classic example of a link farm.

Who is right? Should other be involved in this "network of links" ?

[UNIX] n. A directory tree that contains many links to files in a master directory tree of files. Link farms save space when (for example) one is maintaining several nearly identical copies of the same source tree, e.g., when the only difference is architecture-dependent object files. "Let's freeze the source and then rebuild the FROBOZZ-3 and FROBOZZ-4 link farms." Link farms may also be used to get around restrictions on the number of `-I' (include-file directory) arguments on older C preprocessors. However, they can also get completely out of hand, becoming the filesystem equivalent of {spaghetti code}.
www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/tech/computers/TheHackersDictionaryofComputerJargon/chap34.html


<Back to Last Page> <Full Glossary> Definition: A set of web pages that have been built for the sole purpose of increasing the number of incoming links to a web site. This is done in order to increase link popularity and search engine rankings. Link farms usually require a reciprocal link from sites seeking listings. Link farms are a known spam tactic and sites that participate in them are likely to be penalized or banned from the major search engines.
websearch.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-link-farm.htm


A technique that attempts to increase search engine rankings by generating thousands of links to your website. This method is NOT recommended because search engines can tell when you've got a link farm set up and they will penalize you for it!
www.alphonsomarketing.com/terms_definitions.htm

Yeah, I've seen those definitions that Google picked out. Problem is, they pick out definitions that don't seem to know about the actual "FARMING" aspect. They are just talking FFA stuff and the like.

When I think of "farming", I think of producing plenty of potatoes or tomatoes or whatever...and replicating the same product over and over with the same thing. That makes me think of a "farm". An FFA page doesn't necessarily do that...they are trying to be sneaky, but they aren't really "farming" anything. Does that make sense? I wish there was a more industry-wide definition.

The other problem is with the definiton that about.com provided...it says "INTENT" is important. Unfortunately, when it comes to search engine algorithms, INTENT means SQUAT. Algorithms cannot determine motive...so like CBP says...

I am building a business directory. It is simple a list of contact information and on some entries a more detail discription of thier business. Do you think that search engines would consider the business directory a link farm? If so, any ideas to avoid this?

No. Unlike a "link farm", a business directory (or other internet directory) is categorized in some logical and discernible fashion according to common content or topics. There are numerous valid and reputable B2B directories or directories of other categorized internet sites (e.g., DMOZ for one, Jayde, Andilinks) - none are penalized by search engines.

So where would a reciprocal links directory fit, a valuable viewer resource or a links scheme designed...?