Buying Links not permitted by Google

[White Wolf]

I just seen an area within google's webmater tools were you can report to Google, websites that either buy or sell links.


This is what it says on their report paid link's page.

Help us maintain the quality of Google search results.
We work hard to return the most relevant results for every search we conduct. To that end, we encourage site managers to make their content straightforward and easily understood by users and search engines alike. Unfortunately, not all websites have users' best interests at heart. Some site owners attempt to "buy PageRank™" in the form of paid links to their sites. Buying links to improve PageRank violates our quality guidelines.

Google uses a number of methods to detect paid links, including algorithmic techniques. We also welcome information from our users. If you know of a site that buys or sells links, please tell us by filling out the fields below. We'll investigate your submissions, and we'll use your data to improve our algorithmic detection of paid links.

I would guess at least 50% if not more of all websites is in violation of googles quality guidelines.  You know almost every business link in the Yahoo directory is a paid link. 

[SensoVision]

signs of Google doing this was spotted long time ago on the web, few months ago I've also seen that they got tool in Webmaster area although text was more tolerative from what I remember and they only asked for those who sell links to unrelated sites. Now it seems they decide to find out about any site which sell links(at least I've got such feeling when read this text).
Personally I find their current algo working very well, and I think that buying and selling links doesn't actually harm to it since bad working business not likely to buy links for a long period of time...
So if they really implement some sort of banning for sites which sell and buy links I'm not sure that it would improve their SERPs...

BTW Kevin, from what I remember you was skeptical when we spoke about possibility of Google to do this in future, have you changed your mind?

[White Wolf]

BTW Kevin, from what I remember you was skeptical when we spoke about possibility of Google to do this in future, have you changed your mind?

I've changed my mind

But I'm still skeptical how they are going to crack down on it.

Every business link in the yahoo directory, almost all banner ads and certainly every adword link is a PAID LINK.

I can see all the reports to google from people trying to get their competitors knocked out of the serps. The biggest credit card affiliate site (my competitor) has paid links/advertisments all over the web, and no I'm not reporting them. 

[SensoVision]

I guess it's all depend from webmasters and how they would use this tool, personally I ignore it as well as don't see paid links as big evil. I believe that irrelevant links should be hunted but this should be done in other way IMHO...

[Andy]

I think you pay Yahoo! for a review rather than the link (even if you don't get listed, they keep your money). So the link is in the users best interests. Paid Ads that are text links don't often carry any PR benefits over to the linked-to site since they go through a click tracking script and not directly link to the destination site.

It seems to me that as long as you don't sell links purely for the purpose of selling PR benefits then there should be no problem to sell advertising positions on your site. To be sure, you could add the ref="nofollow" tag to the link if it is a direct link.

[SensoVision]

It seems to me that as long as you don't sell links purely for the purpose of selling PR benefits then there should be no problem to sell advertising positions on your site.

it would be wise to classify links like this IMHO, and tthat's how Matt Cutts explained it when anti paid links company have just started. Let's see if it would be working in the same way.

[bosmolskate]

Most definitely is not a good idea to buy links.  these links have no value and may even hurt your site in the long run.  Be cautious when purchasing links

[rachelbles]

Buying links? There are lots of sites that offers free links.. You just have to be patient in finding them..

[silveraden]

Why I should buy link when I can have it for free... I don't understand why people buy links when you can just take time to comment on blogs.. or exchange links..

[Andy]

Why I should buy link when I can have it for free... I don't understand why people buy links when you can just take time to comment on blogs.. or exchange links..

I think it's an easy way to tap into the high traffic of a page. If you were to buy a link on a high traffic web page that doesn't have many other links, curious people should click on your link.

Big G would obviously prefer you to use them as the middleman rather than dealing direct with the website owner.

[Manu]

Coz its worth it IMO

Why I should buy link when I can have it for free... I don't understand why people buy links when you can just take time to comment on blogs.. or exchange links..

[MarcusWrite]

I just seen an area within google's webmater tools were you can report to Google, websites that either buy or sell links.


This is what it says on their report paid link's page.

I would guess at least 50% if not more of all websites is in violation of googles quality guidelines.  You know almost every business link in the Yahoo directory is a paid link. 

I have not heard any website being penalized by Google for selling paid links.
Are you sure Google is penalizing ? Please share the source of this information. 

[nsterling]

It is much safer if you'll be cautious on buying links.