When I first starting making websites in 1996 I would market them by going to other similar websites and we would link to each other. Also, there were webrings

When I first starting making websites in 1996 I would market them by going to other similar websites and we would link to each other. Also, there were webrings and directories. Now if you link to each other Google thinks you are gaming their search engine and will demote your link and possibly your entire site.