The benefits/downfalls of joining a web ring. Discuss.

[godhn]

Hi everyone,

I was just looking at a useful information site for musicians called bemuso.com. They have lots of info for the independent/DIY artist/band.

This site is part of a web ring, and having a look around at some of the sites, I'm quite tempted to get my business website into it.

However, from a business perspective, I'm not sure if its as good an idea as it first seems. Here are the pros/cons I can think of...

Pros

• Greater exposure to a target market
• Increased traffic
• Good for SEO
• Contacts, Contacts, Contacts

Cons

• Are 'web rings' perceived badly? (ie old / dodgy / naff / etc)
• The logo of the webring is rubbish
• Is the sort of thing a professional, online business should be doing?! (is it suitable?)

I guess some of those only I can answer, but I was just wondering about people's general thoughts and feelings on the subject. Should I put my company site on the webring? Or am I better off making contact with each site individually and being more personal/selective?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts / ideas / advice.

[Blaine Moore]

I'm not sure how much SEO benefit you would get, but the exposure, traffic and contacts would outweigh the SEO anyway.

I don't think that webrings themselves are perceived badly; I think that their hay-day was before the true "internet in every home" type of break through occurred so that depending upon your market your customers may not even realize what one is.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with a professional site joining one. It's not much different than joining a network; Yaro's site is a part of 9Rules, for example.

The only thing that I'd worry about is whether you want the rubbish logo on your website. Maybe it would be worth creating a professionally designed logo and then seeing if you can get the webring to switch to it? Depending upon the rules, you may even be able to just use your own logo for them instead and see if it catches on.