ReciprocalLink.Com / Reciprocal Link Articles / Long URLs...   Long URLs and Reciprocal Links Many people describe the Internet as the great business equalizer. With fancy or professional websites, small and average-sized companies can look like huge corporations. Likewise, large corporations can look, well, average. Like it or not, on the Internet, perception means a great deal. One of the first impressions given to potential website visitors is your website address or URL. An address such as http://www.mygreatcorporation.com says many things to most surfers. First, it immediately says the name of the company or the topic of the website. Second, it says that more than likely the website is professionally done and one worth visiting. This idea seems strange and easy to challenge. Anyone can purchase a domain, placing a bad website online with many animated graphics and some broken links. Unfortunately, this hypothetical website with gaudy graphics and broken links would probably receive many more visits than one with the URL of http://www.somefreewebspaceprovider.com/ ~mygreatcorporation. Why? Are all free webspace providers bad? Is hosting your company's website with a free or low-cost website provider a death-knell to your company? I'm not saying these website providers are all bad. I, personally, have hosted many websites with low-cost providers and received great results. On the Internet, though, it is just a fact that you are going to be taken more seriously if you have a domain than if you are just an extension of someone else's. We come now to the subject of reciprocal links. If you wish to trade reciprocal links with other webmasters, the usual process would involve e-mailing the webmaster with a greeting, the invitation, and your web address for him or her to visit. Because of the perception-based rule of the Internet, your reciprocal link request is more likely to be taken seriously if you have your own domain! Some webmasters may not even wish to trade reciprocal links with websites with URLs based on other providers' domains, fearing the sites are not high quality. Is this fair? No. But that is life. I can say from my own personal experience that I attempt to trade reciprocal links with quality websites, no matter what the URL may be. I may be an exception, so why take chances getting your message lost in the shuffle? If you are serious about your website, consider getting your own domain. Sure; it costs some money, but in this author's humble opinion, the cash spent is well worth it when you realize how much better your website will be perceived in the eyes of your visitors.