Are link exchanges really worth it ?

[megaman]

I've always been told that for SEO link exchanges are dead weight. i.e. that one way links are always superior than link exchanges ? If this is true then should one abandon link exchanges and focus purely on buying or acquiring one way links ? I still see loads of people asking for link exchanges so are they wasting they're time or is there some benefit to it.

Thanks, I know this might be a silly question but I just wanted to get everyone's idea's on it.

[PCKen]

It depends I think these exchanges are better for Yahoo search and almost useless for Google.  Organic link exchanges that are relevant to content can help google a little bit too, these sometimes take a long time to see any effect

[tradedemon]

Link exchanges as you say are a good place to start. No one's really going to link to you unless you link back when your site is new. So linking with relevant sites, gives you some visibility and them too. It's a natural thing and a good way to start off your SEO campaign.

[Alex]

Link exchange works like internal links.
So it can give you something but very, very little.

[amomswish]

Most of them are free if you put a reciprocal link on your page.  It may only bring a little traffic, but any traffic helps!

[stonewood]

Link exchanger can bring visitors to your site. But I am not sure that it increases ranking of website. It depends upon Google how to crawl the link for traffic exchange.

[SeoDezin]

Links exchange does not really work but it can pay bad effect to your site if you get links from site that have bad quality

[carldweb]

Yes link exchange is worth but only when your taking link from quality site. This is not important is your buying  or  taking it free.
Its just useful when it is from quality site.
In terms of buying link, there many companies can't afford buying links so that they assign this work to SEO's to take free relevant category link from other sites.
I hope you are satisfied.

[SahilFruits]

Link exchanges sill matters if done in proper way. If the both sites are of equal value then it is useless, if one site has higher value & another with lower, then site with lower value will be benefited.