When I do linkexchnage I do email them on how will be the linkexchange will go and I do usually put their link already in order to let them know that " i mean serious business" then after two days or a week without a reply I do send another follow up e-mail..After that if no reply at all...**remove their link..but i do this to those sites that i'm pretty sure that they are pretty much willing to exchange link....and glad it do works for me...