Grow Your Blog with the Reciprocal Review Carousel
If you want to improve your blog’s ranking, a strong linking strategy is key. That’s why I was excited when Michelle McPhearson introduced me to the Reciprocal Review Carousel. She even reminded me to get started—thanks, Michelle!
This strategy fits perfectly with the Web 2.0 philosophy: building value through community connections. It’s all about supporting others while growing your own visibility in return.
What Is the Reciprocal Review Carousel?
The Reciprocal Review Carousel is a smart, ethical way to build quality backlinks and engage with other bloggers. The idea is simple: write short reviews of blogs you like and add your own blog to the rotation.
Here’s why it works so well:
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You get backlinks with your preferred anchor text.
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You provide real value to the blogging community.
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Reviews are placed in content, which search engines love.
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No link farming penalties—as long as you keep total links under 30 per page.
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The viral nature of the strategy expands your reach as more people join.
How to Join the Reciprocal Review Carousel
Here’s a quick step-by-step to participate:
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Copy the full Reciprocal Review Carousel block and instructions (see below).
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Create a blog post on your site explaining that you’re joining the carousel.
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Paste the full text block into your post.
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Remove the bottom review and add your own review to the top of the list.
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Write at least two sentences about the blog you’re reviewing.
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Include your blog’s name as anchor text and link it to your homepage.
Here’s an Example Review
WordPress Web 2.0 Guide is an excellent blog that offers detailed tutorials for building a Web 2.0 site using WordPress. The guides are beginner-friendly and packed with tips.
Reviewed by: WordPress 2.0 Guide
Why This Works
This method allows you to:
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Create authentic, content-rich backlinks
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Strengthen your authority within your niche
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Encourage other bloggers to engage and reciprocate
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Drive viral growth by participating in a growing network of reviews
Final Thoughts on the Reciprocal Review Carousel
The reciprocal review carousel is more than just a clever SEO trick—it’s a community-driven, value-adding method to grow your blog traffic. Plus, you’ll build lasting relationships with other bloggers.
After you post your review, let the blog owner know. Many will join in, adding your site to their carousel. That means more backlinks, more exposure, and potentially higher Google PageRank—all while supporting fellow creators.