Site linking is nowadays perceived as the foundation of SEO optimization work, indispensable for achieving that much desired web exposure and search engine prominence required to run a successful and sturdy website or blog. In today’s highly competitive online climate, it can be very difficult, if not impossible for blogs to survive relying solely on the reader inflow attracted by quality of content. This is why site linking is often an absolute must when it comes to keeping up the pace set by the competition.

There are three types of links utilized in site linking by both categories of bloggers and website owners, each particular type attracting a series of specific benefits: link trains, link exchanges and paid links. We will discuss each of these link types separately hereinafter.

- Link trains refer to a chain of links with the nucleus on a prominent, reputable website run by experienced administrators. The technique involves generating as many links as possible in a relatively short amount of time starting from the original link alone, and is generally put into effect by drawing attention upon and publicly encouraging the perpetuation of these links to boost the exposure of the website hosting that original link. With proper implementation, link trains can do wonders in terms of online promotion.

- Link exchanges basically consist in the link trade between two or more websites from the same niche and with similar directions for mutual benefit. This technique is very common to site linking, being particularly favored by bloggers looking to extend their grasp over the targeted traffic of another similar blog.    

- Paid links are situated somewhere at the border of white-hat SEO practices, and should only be employed with caution. Having said that, let us have a look at what this site linking method actually involves: one inferior site attempts to leverage the advantage of another website or blog that enjoys higher rankings in search engine hierarchies to help increase its exposure. The first site approaches the latter to negotiate the inclusion of a permanent link in exchange of either a one-time or a regular fee. While the method can be effective, its legitimacy is questionable, with some search engines always on the look out for suspicious paid links.

Well, now that you have been introduced to the “big three” of site linking, it is up to you to decide which method is best suited for achieving your goals. Properly handled, each of the three site linking practices can be effective in increasing the visitor influx for your blog or website, but if we were to recommend one above the other, the primary choice would probably be link exchanges. Link trains should be used scarcely and warily, as they can pass as spam to both users and search engines. The same thing applies for some paid links, so only use them in the right context.