I get at least one request for a blogroll link daily – usually two or three, and sometimes even as much as ten a day. These are all turned down – whether the blog is one of the heavy hitters (not that any of them have approached yours truly, of course 
) or created just a couple minutes ago (too many of these have approached yours truly) they are all politely told that TUK does not have blog links, and for aged blogs – the best they can get is one on the links page.
I have picked up a decent amount of flak for this – some even turning abusive after they were turned down – after explaining it a couple hundred times to people over instant messenger/via private message on forums, I write this post hoping to clear this.
First off, let me state – blogroll link exchanges are worthless. That may surprise, or even irritate some of you that thrive on link exchanges, but anyways – you’re wasting your time. Let me explain. You see, people that engage in link exchanges tend to do a lot of them – even if you’re on the lesser side, you’d do at least 4-5 link exchanges (and thus have 4-5 links in your blogroll). There is not guarantee on the amount of links that the person who you are exchanging with will have – s/he could have 10, 15 or even 20 links in their sidebar – this will obviously not benefit you as a) there are too many links and b) generally people who do so many link exchanges will not have a lot of traffic. So, there’s the traffic ruled out. Backlinks/link power? Well, the majority of WordPress blogs have nofollow links – this can only be removed by installing a plugin; unless the person you are exchanging with has this plugin enabled, you will not have any ‘link juice’ passed on – even if it is a PR10 blog (and let’s face it, there are very few of them, and none of them are going to do a link exchange with you, sad as it is).
I do send out links to others – in the form of the top commentators plugin. Rather than be shunted out to the Links page, the top commentators on TUK automatically get a link in the sidebar – this is a dofollow link and one that benefits both the blogger and his/her readers. Now, having the top commentators plugin means that only those who take an active interest in the blog in terms of comments get a link back to their site – why should I do a link exchange with someone that is maybe only going to visit the site once? This plugin ensures that no matter how big or small you are you are not discriminated against, and you receive a link back to the site of your choice – sometimes just needing five or ten comments to be featured. The dofollow links also of course pass on the extremely valuable link juice of this PR0.00 blog to any of your sites 
Hope that helps cut down the amount of those questions a bit (or remove them altogether ).
I have been playing around with Commission Junction a bit today – its interface is phenomenal, and I’ll be writing my first affiliate article (it’ll be of decent use though, as I’ve personally used the method) tomorrow for all of you. I’ve also bought into a marketing package for Auction Ads on Digital Point – let’s see how that goes, as I believe Shoemoney runs it (they pay through Paypal too – hehe). There is an Arsenal game tonight, but one that I will be unable to watch with the party (just back; we thrashed the scum and Utd lost as well, so top of the league!) – will catch the game tomorrow.
2 AM here, just back – bed time!
December 30th, 2007 at 8:19 am
The method you use is so helpful to people and yourself. Good luck on your marketing package.
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December 30th, 2007 at 9:34 am
ShoeMoney sold Auction ads to TLA. That is what I heard.
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December 30th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I’m still thinking if I should put a list of top commentators in my blog’s sidebar. I made a post about it a couple of weeks ago, but still haven’t made a choice yet.
Well, anyways, it’s good to see my name in your top commentators list. Even though, I barely made it. (:
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December 30th, 2007 at 10:14 am
A post! Yeah, I thought the method that you use is helpful as well. I always look at the commentators side panel and check out the websites. Arthur, I think you should add the “top commentators” plugin.
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December 30th, 2007 at 11:22 am
You know you can cut out Auction Ads, and just go directly to eBay and sign up for their affiliate program through CJ. I was using Auction Ads, but figured why give them a cut when you can sign up directly yourself.
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December 30th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Apparently my application for eBay through CJ was rejected. Ah well…
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December 30th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Good luck with CJ.
another ebook?? about your CJ adventures?
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December 30th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Just wanted to thank you Jason for your Do Follow link to http://www.WatchTheBoondocks.com in your top commentors =X
gluck on the new ebook
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December 30th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
egk: Actually only US residents can join the eBay.com affiliate program, so if you don’t live in the US your only choice is AuctionAds.
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December 30th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Cool mate… Nice post there..
Typical Twit Post
“Can I have a link exchange on your blog roll for my site xxx?”
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December 30th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Can I have a link exchange on your blog roll for my site?
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December 31st, 2007 at 12:42 am
Blogrolls aren’t worthless. While you might not get PR, you can get traffic. many of the blogs I read/visit regularly were found via other bloggers blogrolls.
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December 31st, 2007 at 12:59 am
^Same for me, as well.
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December 31st, 2007 at 5:56 am
I have a small blog roll but I did it mainly for the relationship with the owners. Plus I get a few clicks.
You dont have to live in the us to get accepted by ebay through cj. I live in Australia and got accepted.
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December 31st, 2007 at 6:46 am
@ Chenzen, kind of… it’ll be free though so that I can build up a list
@ Thomas – dunno, that’s what the person that’s managing my campaign said. Ah well
@ Daniel – how much traffic? 10 uniques a day? Would you not be more likely to visit a person’s website if, say – they continually posted interesting comments on a blog post of a blog you frequented?
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December 31st, 2007 at 7:17 am
Well, except for getting a SLIGHT PR boost, blog rolls never worked out in terms of traffic for me…atleast.
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January 1st, 2008 at 3:08 am
Hmm. Well, I regularly go to the blogs of my friends via my blogroll. Hahahaha. Can’t remember their URLs and too lazy to bookmark or subscribe
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