Well this was a really great post, and surely we cannot have people calling foul if there is no harm.
What'll Google think of next ya'll?
WebSyndications
· 2 years ago
Matt-Cutts-Bashing and Other Blunders
Responses to what appeared to be an upfront disclosure and an honest solicitation of industry-input have quickly developed into a slew of Matt-Cutts-bashings. I've never met the man but, folks, he simply doesn't deserve that from us.
That said, I do find horrendous problems for Matt Cutts in finding ways to define, to identify and to monitor paid links. I'll just give you three examples here.
1. Define What is a Paid Link
At law, compensation doesn't just mean cash. It also means goods, services and even love. What is a paid link? If I write a 750 word article and allow it to be posted on a Web site in exchange for a link, do you not realize that I have just paid between $220 and $750 in time and talent for that single link even though no money traded hands?
If a philanthropist donates $20,000 to a nonprofit and that nonprofit posts a thank you for the sponsorship on its Web site and provides a courtesy link to the donor's Web site, is that not a paid link? If it isn't, than all link farm sites can become nonprofits and give away links for a "donation."
2. How Will Google Know For Certain How to Identify a Paid Link?
I just finished a backlink campaign for a client yesterday. I submitted 100 links. Not one was a paid link and not one was given a reciprocal link or a "no follow." If my record holds, 90% of these links will be accepted. But here's a problem. Five of these links were to directory sites (PR 6 or greater) that also post paid links and links that are paid for by reciprocal links. No one but the sites' Webmasters and I know for certain which category of link I applied for. I'm certain that the Webmasters of these sites would not want to volunteer how many of their posted links are given for free. Like all of us, they have mouths to feed.
3. How Will Google Monitor and Mediate?
If a competitor of my client's Website "reports" to Google that I have paid for links, will Google notify me so that I may initiate a slander or libel lawsuit? Will Google mediate so that I have an opportunity to refute the accusation? (How many new employees will Google have to hire to monitor and mediate the accusations and complaints?) Or, are we to be presumed guilty with no opportunity to prove innocence?
So Matt Cutts asked for a discussion, so let's discuss. I am seriously pleased that he gave us this opportunity to participate. And for all the panicking Web site owners, may I just point out that it is possible to garner a Google Page Rank 7, place #4 on a Google search out of 256,000,000 Results for a 2 word Keyphrase, with a Home page that does NOT contain the Keyphrase and a Web site which has only 20 inbound links. If your SEO expert doesn't know how this is possible, check www.WebSyndications.com next month.
Tom
· 2 years ago
Chris, this is an outstanding, highly-informative post. The points you bring up surely will counteract any concept of this working for Google. I just don't see how it will work. Like Graywolf said, Google is in fact "a for profit company" and it's important people don't lose sight of this.
Damien Jorgensen - Cardiff
· 2 years ago
Great post!
seems to get right the point I think.
And im no google fan!
Chris Winfield
· 2 years ago
Thanks Damien - glad you enjoyed it!
odls
· 1 year ago
It all smacks of hypocrisy on Google`s part. Another example of "Big Brother Is Watching" I reckon.
Geoff
· 1 year ago
Great article, still topical now. These new Google guidelines will create more problems than they solve.
Ad Manager
· 1 year ago
Maybe the term "paid link" that Google uses is very misleading and confusing. They should choose another term that describes the problem better. Many links are paid, directly or indirectly. BusinessWeek says "Buy a link here", so it must be paid links then! Many advertising services are about paid links, including Google's AdWords. Use another term or remove this altogether! I cannot believe Google didn't think this through!
phpdev
· 10 months ago
I don't sell links on my websites but I still have lots of usual non-paid links to other sites. Now I am worried what if some day Google decides that some of them are paid links? There is no way that I can prove them wrong... Should I start making all links as ?
Opseo
· 10 months ago
It’s very difficult being competitive without buying links, the competition have already bought loads. I also wonder why Google allows banned website to advertise with adwords, even link seller use adwords to advertise links for sale.
Mexabet
· 9 months ago
Selling link is bad and something has to done about it. Google does monitor link buyers but I don't think it can do it accurately. Definitely there would be mistakes in its judgment, which site owners will have to helplessly bear.
RohitK
· 8 months ago
Yes I want to add that people are using their brain, time, resource to find good Link building startegy they should have an upper hand over these paid link builders. So we support each other as well google to find such sites.
All Comments
What'll Google think of next ya'll?
Responses to what appeared to be an upfront disclosure and an honest solicitation of industry-input have quickly developed into a slew of Matt-Cutts-bashings. I've never met the man but, folks, he simply doesn't deserve that from us.
That said, I do find horrendous problems for Matt Cutts in finding ways to define, to identify and to monitor paid links. I'll just give you three examples here.
1. Define What is a Paid Link
At law, compensation doesn't just mean cash. It also means goods, services and even love. What is a paid link? If I write a 750 word article and allow it to be posted on a Web site in exchange for a link, do you not realize that I have just paid between $220 and $750 in time and talent for that single link even though no money traded hands?
If a philanthropist donates $20,000 to a nonprofit and that nonprofit posts a thank you for the sponsorship on its Web site and provides a courtesy link to the donor's Web site, is that not a paid link? If it isn't, than all link farm sites can become nonprofits and give away links for a "donation."
2. How Will Google Know For Certain How to Identify a Paid Link?
I just finished a backlink campaign for a client yesterday. I submitted 100 links. Not one was a paid link and not one was given a reciprocal link or a "no follow." If my record holds, 90% of these links will be accepted. But here's a problem. Five of these links were to directory sites (PR 6 or greater) that also post paid links and links that are paid for by reciprocal links. No one but the sites' Webmasters and I know for certain which category of link I applied for. I'm certain that the Webmasters of these sites would not want to volunteer how many of their posted links are given for free. Like all of us, they have mouths to feed.
3. How Will Google Monitor and Mediate?
If a competitor of my client's Website "reports" to Google that I have paid for links, will Google notify me so that I may initiate a slander or libel lawsuit? Will Google mediate so that I have an opportunity to refute the accusation? (How many new employees will Google have to hire to monitor and mediate the accusations and complaints?) Or, are we to be presumed guilty with no opportunity to prove innocence?
So Matt Cutts asked for a discussion, so let's discuss. I am seriously pleased that he gave us this opportunity to participate. And for all the panicking Web site owners, may I just point out that it is possible to garner a Google Page Rank 7, place #4 on a Google search out of 256,000,000 Results for a 2 word Keyphrase, with a Home page that does NOT contain the Keyphrase and a Web site which has only 20 inbound links. If your SEO expert doesn't know how this is possible, check www.WebSyndications.com next month.
seems to get right the point I think.
And im no google fan!