Is reciprocal linking still a useful method of link building?

Years ago reciprocal linking was a major tool for building links. The fact that there was a sub-forum devoted to it here reflects that fact.
But in todays's situation, does it still have anything to offer?
There are still many companies offering an exchange service, and I get a constant stream of requests to exchange.
Personally, I use it as a very small part of my overall strategy, i.e. I will selectively exchange if I believe it will benefit my site, but the links I have arranged are a small percentage of my total links and a very small percentage of the requests I receive.
So as to limit this topic, I want to stipulate that I am only talking about simple link exchanges between two websites, not three way links, link wheels and other variations on the theme. Also I am not looking for advice on the benefits of one-way linking.

 

Link exchange does not really exists these days hardly anyone does it. The only reason to do such link exchange will be for traffic nothing else but at the same time there are so many other methods which helps you to drive traffic your site.

 

How can you say that?? There is an argument to be had over whether it is effective any more, which is what I am trying to instigate. But to say that it doesn't really exist any more is rubbish, it is still thriving, just do a Google search for it. Just because you don't do it doesn't mean no-one else does.

 

I respect your short given opinion, but as someone who's interests are stated as SEO and web design I would have hoped you could expand on it to give your reasons to add to the discussion.

 

Could you explain please how that opinion is consistent with a comment you posted on the thread:

Re: Best Link building Strategies

i.e. how can link exchange give instant results if Google has reduced the priority to reciprocal linking?

 

I actually re-evaluated my links page the other day, and found that in many cases I was giving away a lot more than I was getting back. Some of these were set up when my site was very new and I was gaining at that time, but as it has progressed and these other sites haven't, the situation is different now. So I deleted all those that I didn't want any more, and have just 55 left. I think I can see a situation in the not too distant future when most of the rest will go as well.