Seems to be more a warning of a new offensive against paid links with a side-swipe at hidden ones, it's certainly stirred up the ant-hill.... Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO » Hidden links
Matt causes a stir...
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Cormac
New Member
I was going to post about this but I was going to wait until this evening before digesting all the info that's floating about.
Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO » How to report paid links
It seems ridiculous to blacklist paid links. How can Google determine if a link is paid for or free? They are requesting that webmasters snitch on other webmasters who may be using paid links. What's stopping me from purchasing paid links for a competitor in other to get them blacklisted?
The thinking behind this isn't very coherent at all.
If Google are to remove or diminish the power of linking of any sorts they're going to have to add a lot more weight to the other deciding factors in SEO.
More disclosure is required.
Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO » How to report paid links
It seems ridiculous to blacklist paid links. How can Google determine if a link is paid for or free? They are requesting that webmasters snitch on other webmasters who may be using paid links. What's stopping me from purchasing paid links for a competitor in other to get them blacklisted?
The thinking behind this isn't very coherent at all.
If Google are to remove or diminish the power of linking of any sorts they're going to have to add a lot more weight to the other deciding factors in SEO.
More disclosure is required.
I imagine it would be extremely difficult if not impossible for Google to detect if a link is a paid for one or not. If someone pays for a clean single link in relevant content how would they ever know? I think they would like people to indicate they are paid links by including "Paid Links" or such text close by to the links or by setting nofollow etc. It's really up to the webmaster if they want Google to know if the links are paid for or not but the worth of such links would obviously be much less so I imagine most wouldn't do it.
Arch-Stanton
New Member
This was mentioned on WebProNews Video Blog WebProNews Video Blog » Blog Archive » SES Live Interview with Google’s Vanessa Fox and Rand Fishkin of seomoz.org
In the interview the question was evaded, however, the way the question was asked would an indication on how Google could ascertain paid links.
Establish a list of sites which sell links and penalize links from those locations.
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In the interview the question was evaded, however, the way the question was asked would an indication on how Google could ascertain paid links.
Establish a list of sites which sell links and penalize links from those locations.
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Cormac
New Member
That's total BS on Google's part
I know they're trying to make the search results more organic but this kind of defense can't be implemented. Turning white hats into black hats is a magic trick.
They cant and that's the problem but they are looking for patterns and my guess they will be soon releasing the beast against paid links. The paid link report is probably just a quick and easy way for them to know who is buying links and then test whatever the big secret is.
I personally don't think they will be going after the very small link buyers or sellers but more of the ones who are basically link whores. There are people out there spending thousands per month buying links and others are making thousands selling them. Take Col Crawford on Digital Point as an example, he has over 100 blogs where he sells links, articles etc and makes a killing from it. Google know very well about him and it would be very stupid if they didn't as he is well known within DP. Now all of a sudden he has announced that he is selling shop and has already had an offer of $80,000 for the network of blogs. Google probably see two problems with his network, first being with the abuse of the PR & back links but second Google is missing out on the selling action. Call the money reason a conspiracy but when you have a couple of hundred Col's then it makes sense.
BTW, is it me or does everyone on DP seem to be flogging directories? Nice to see Dustin again Cormac
I am watching to see if any of the more successful directory owners on DP start selling up, even the ones with high traffic.
Another person I am interested in is John Scott. Matt Cutts already took a dig at John on his recent launch of a paid links program. For one thing John and his team had a great run and have been somewhat successful but I haven't had the chance to catch up and hear his thoughts on this new saga.
Just to let you know that's me, not the other Cormac.
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