[DarylMichalik]

If your goal is better SERPs (and higher PR) for YourSite.com, should you minimize using tracking URLs (e.g. YourSite.com/?trackURL) when linking to your site?

For example, suppose the link to your site is a backlink from a free directory. The link you submit to the directory could include a tracking URL. The benefit of using a tracking URL is you can track clicks and conversions from that directory (perhaps a secondary goal for the directory listing) using ad tracking software.

I raise this issue because I have noticed that there is different PR for YourSite.com and YourSite.com/?trackURL. Thus I thought it's possible that tracking URLs might negatively affect SEO.

So, I investigated this issue a bit, and found different opinions... one article claimed that using a tracking URL that includes keywords is helpful for SEO. For example, if you want to optimize YourSite.com for "hiking boots," some folks say you'll get better SERPs if links to your site use tracking URLs such as YourSite.com/?hiking-boots.

Any thoughts / experience with this issue? Thanks!

Cheers,
Daryl