I need some help with Linkspun
 

Hi

I am new to using link trade sites. I joined linkspun, stating I was looking for hardlink trades in my niche. I received 2 trade requests. The first one was fine, I was able submit acceptance. The second one I could not find the link. I declined it and left a comment that I was willing to trade, but could not find the link on site.
The reply from the trader was that the link was hidden, as they did not want any outbound links on that page |huh (I thought the whole idea of a hardlink trade was a 2 way thing?) The trader also told me to click on the "link to" url - as I could still see the page.
How does this work? There is a link on the page I viewed, "get listed on the ......." with the e mail addy. Do you think I am supposed to email and do an exchange that way?

I must admit to being a trifle confused.

I'm using Linkspun also. If someone told me that about a hidden link, I'd tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine. That's just wrong, and not the purpose of the whole thing.

Thanks

I wasn't sure if this was a dodgy move, or if I was missing something!

Hey

Just to clarify the "hidden" link thing ...a hidden link is not a backlink that is somehow disquised (and thus valueless) but a way for traders to add domains they only want to trade to, not from. Thats quite a normal practice and nothing shady, for instance most people dont want outgoing links on paysites/affiliate entry points - but they still want trades to them, which isnt a problem - as long as there are other backlinks to choose from of sufficient quality.

Most traders dont linktrade directly back and forth - but do A-B-C or A-B-C-D...so if say you get a link request for your a link on your site www.tadpole.com to a site called www.hincapie.com - then you go and see what you can get in return, you dont see www.hincapie.com as its hidden (but if it wasnt, you would be a bit silly to choose it anyway, as it would largely ruin the value of the trade, as it would be a plain recip trade - if you want the link back to www.tadpole.com that is).

So, instead you figure you want a link on www.kinkybob.com, you add that to the request and ask for a link back to www.tadpole.com or one of your other sites. You get a nice link kinkybob.com, i get a nice link from tadpole.com - everyone is happy...

I need clarification.....

Are you talking about he put your link on his page, but you couldn't see it (it was hidden)? If so, I stand by my first reply.

If you are talking about not being able to see it on Linkspun in his list of sites, then listen to what hincapie said.

What Nymph said - if the link to your site is somehow hidden on the page its supposed to be on, thats pure rubbish and cheating.

I was talking about the "hidden" feature on linkspun :)

what is nickname of this "trader" at Linkspun?

Thanks for that explanation hincapie, so have I got it right? - I look to see what other pages this trader has listed on linkspun, I choose one, and add it to the trade? The fact that the traders other pages are on different domains, does not matter, providing we both get a link placed?

I didn't list it, because being new to trading, I thought it highly likely that there were ins and outs that I have yet to learn. I want to make sure before I make a total arse of myself, and blemish someones good name.

Exactly. In fact thats better for you (if of course you can find one you consider good quality).

The search engines consider a link to your site a "vote" that its worth visiting your site. But only if the "vote" is given with nothing in return - so if you link back to and from the same domain, its not counting as a positive "vote" - whereas, if your link back is from a different domain, it works as a "vote" both ways.

Great,

Thanks so much for taking the time to help!