Reciprocal Links between my own sites ?

[martincad]

Is is ok to have Reciprocal Links between sites you really own ?

We have a website that has been regionalized to 5 countries, using 5 different domains. The content is exclusive for the country but the keywords used might be similar.

We have all the domains under the same Analytics account and all of them share the same Adsense code.

Can I be penalized by Google for making reciprocal links between them ? Is something usefull for improving the SEO rank or I should avoid doing it ?

Thanks in advance

[RobertFisher]

Well put Gianluca, I always appreciate your input.

[gfiorelli1]

Robert gave a great answer, but I may offer you an alternative.

It is true that all your sites linking one each other may seem a classic link wheel, but sometimes - and maybe it is your case - there are occasion when a business company runs more site for its different brands.

In that case the fact each site links to the others in not absolutely a spammy thing, but a brand consistence necessity.

But, in order to make clear you are not doing any suspicious link wheel, the best way is to create a good About Us page where you tell the nature of the site and that is part of a bigger project which see also the existance of other sites, which you briefly describe and link to (and maybe in a subsection with H2 heading: "Our international sites" or "Our international presence).

Doing that way you link your sites one each other, but editorially and just in a very topically defined page (the About Us).

So, you will also avoid to the links in places which are surely devaluated (i.e.: footer links).

[SimonCullum]

That's a great answer from Robert.

Additionally, if the inter-site links would benefit your visitors, then by all means provide them, otherwise, really not much benefit to be gained on the SEO front as Robert correctly mentions.

You mention that the various websites have their own Content. Use this unique content to attract links by ensuring that it adds value to the visitors, is topical, informative, useful. Distribute it well and socially share it amongst relevant networks, focus on those such activities for your links.

Regards, Simon

[RobertFisher]

The fact you have them under the same analytics account really says it all; while Google may not penalize it per say, they are likely to devalue the links. Frankly, we already know that reciprocal links don't work or one off schemes around them. Having sites that are on the same IP address or C block will also devalue the link. So, what to do?

An example for us is our main site. We build a lot of sites for others and for at least a year and a half now we no longer have those sites link back to us. In our new site, there are no links coming back from clients. There just doesn't seem to be a point in it. With your sites I think you would be better served to get your links the old fashion way.

Best,