@Focal 152394 wrote:
I’m not saying your wrong, but I just don’t understand the rationale behind that. What if your company or site is in the news for something one day and you get thousands of links from other sources? I’m not sure why Google would penalize you for that? If you are a smart marketer and you produce an article or tool to use as link bait and thousands of webmasters link to you during a short period of time, I think that’s just good marketing.
Mark
I forgot to mention this, Only get or exchange link which is related to your websites theme. Always try to get links in content which is related to your websites theme. Don’t place links or exchange links with unrelated sites. Google might take this as unnatural Link Building or Black hat Link Building Technique and you may get penalized.
Getting links through article syndication is different. As you will be getting links in theme based content.
Before exchanging links please check the following:
1) Website Indexed in Google or Not.
2) All outgoing links must be related to your websites theme.
3) Outgoing links must not be more than 35-50.
4) Check if they are using any scripts or no-follow links.
There are few more but I don’t have in my mind right now. 
I will post later.
Cheers
Seomaster