Referral links are when another domain publishes a hyperlink, usually with an advertising description/graphic, to your site. Reciprocal links are when two, or more, sites agree to publish referral links to each other.

Referral links can benefit site promotion is several ways:

• Directly creates traffic
• Users can link from other sites to yours
• Creates name recognition
• Increases people's exposure to you when they view your ad
• Boosts search engine positioning
• SE spiders will visit more often and your link popularity is improved

Referral Link Formats

• Banner ads
  Graphical (most common) or text links prominently displayed on a site.
• Favorite links page
  Web page containing a list of links to recommended sites
• Reciprocal links programs
  Web page containing a list of links to recommended sites
• E-mail referral links
  Links published in a newsletter or other form of e-mail message
• Hidden links
  Links that are not visible on a page. Used only to boost link popularity and spider travel.

Referral Link Compensation

Many forms of compensation for adding referral links on a site. Below is a list of the more popular ones.

• Pay per impression
  A site receives payment for each time they display a link/ad
• Affiliate Programs
  Payment for click through or commissions on purchases
• Reciprocal links
  Both sites get a link to one another

Further Reading