(Entry was posted by John Pitcher on this post in the Dumb SEO Questions community on Facebook, Monday, October 7, 2013).

Is social sharing schemes a legitimate way of getting your content "out there" and noticed?

I`m coming across quite a few recommendations to different social sharing schemes - you share x posts and then you get so many credits to post your own material to the network in the hope that other people will share your content.

It this a legitimate way of getting your content "out there" and noticed - or is it likely that - now or in the future - people who use these schemes will be penalised in the same way that people who have used blog networks or links farms have been?

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YOUR ANSWERS

Selected answers from the Dumb SEO Questions G+ community.

Masatake Wasa: Generally speaking, I believe this kind of scheme is best avoided: after all, it is exchanging something you think will be of value (shares) for something else (credits), and in that sense, it's similar to exchanging links.
John Pitcher: Many thanks ;- I have to admit that was my instinct, but, having just read some top bloggers recommending these schemes, thought I'd check what others think.
W.E. Jonk: From the expert panel in this weeks SEO Questions hangout on air on 00:55:46 into the YouTube video: