Ok, I offer this
http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/3096759.htmI will say hunting 3 ways they way you are is most probably far superior. But not bulletproof.
Additionally, I have like 3 recip link over 14 Domains...and have never purchased a link ever. Well, one of my customers did once, but it has been axed by Google...Recently. My backlinks overall in the scheme of things are relatively pitiful, but my sites...for their age perform fairly well.
My point here, is that I think...Google respects the "natural" link growth factor. I even have one site, that it's only relative traffic is the dang spiders..like 30 uniques per day. The site is out of date...except the optimization which I have kept current and continue to evolve.
Site has only 8 total backlinks 5 unique, yet is on page one for its targeted phrase..mobile food concessions
http://www.lisasconcessions.com/I designed this site a reallllllllll long time ago...I want to redesign it, but she likes it UGH! It was never indexed until March 2007.
My point here, it that there are so many components in the ranking formula...you need not hit every single one...choose your battles. In this case, the pages are ugly, but my hands are tied...so I optimize for keywords.
I have made no real effort in most of my sites for linking, I just really think links should be organic. But like I said, I can give you more examples like the one above...I have a site doing 18,000 unique visits a month that was launched in March 07 and is page 1 for all but the newest of its terms with only 149 backlinks.
Yes, I could certainly pump these up with backlinks...but I really believe that's not the path that brings the best success. Besides, go where...its already at the top..is that money well spent? You see, while my development may be slower....it is doing something that is much harder to accomplish than backlinks...it is building authority and credibility....And I will go out on a limb and say right now.....That is where Google is going with all this. A year from now...I will be there, and I can wait.
I feel your pain though, customers want things right now! I have been luck my customers sites have been in niches that I have easily hit thus far. I would NOT hesitate the blink of an eye to use a different strategy if a I was unable to hit for a new customer after 3 or 4 months. So, I'm not locked in or shooting myself in the foot....Just trying to do what I believe first, and what I HAVE to last.
Having said that.....When you are seeking you 3 way links you might take care to check them out. I would suggest you check the neighborhood, as their outbound links could potentially become your problem if you link to them. The magic trick I was taught to be certain the page your link resides on is able to transfer PageRank to you is as follows:
Select from the mid body a unique mid section of one sentence to the mid section of the next...at least 7-10 words. Paste the text in Google regular search box between "" quotes....Make sure you are signed out. then search....If you do NOT find that page...you are getting screwed...that page cannot transfer PR. I cannot vote for the truth of this, but its fairly logical...and he's a very wise man.
Here is a link to a page on PageRank and transfer calculations with a script you can install to calculate them for you..Pretty cool.
http://www.iprcom.com/papers/pagerank/So, like I said I can see where there is a need for these things..I just think you really have to be a "link cop" and I personally prefer to do things different....
Cheers
--Melanie
