Selling "sponsored by" links on a forum

[click here]

Okay, I sell links on the main index page of a forum with a "sponsored by" xyz company format.

My question is, does this hurt me as far as PR etc.?
Also, what would be the best link format to use such as dofollow nofollow etc.?

[zexy]

To stay on the safe side, nofollow is a better idea.
"Sponsored by" should be removed immediately IMHO.

[click here]

What it be better to replace the "sponsored by" link with a small banner instead?

[zexy]

Yes, it would be better idea since Google can't read images (just filenames).
However if someone reports your site, it won't make any difference.
Is it absolutely necessary to say the links are sponsored?

[click here]

Part of my advertising that I sell on this one site was the ability to sponsor forums, sounds like I may need to rethink that. I could probably advertise it as selling a small static banner instead.

[richromo]

As a potential advertiser I just took my ad off a blog that insisted on putting sponsored by above my link! In my opinion having the phrase potential advertiser is a kiss of death - slight exaggeration on my part. Can't you put link partners or nothing at all?

[Qryztufre]

As a potential advertiser I just took my ad off a blog that insisted on putting sponsored by above my link! In my opinion having the phrase potential advertiser is a kiss of death - slight exaggeration on my part. Can't you put link partners or nothing at all?

Kiss of death from who? Certainly not Google... when the big G came out with their 'no paid links' thing, one of the things they said that was fine WAS to say it was a sponsored link. As for putting 'link partners' IMHO, that is worse, at least in my eyes, as for some odd ball reason, I understand a site needs to make a little cash to survive so I don't mind them being sponsored... what I don't really care for is link exchanges *boggle*

Either way though, heh, ads are ads and I'm pretty blind to them, so whatever...

As for the original question, yeah, put that text with ANY ad, and to make it even better in the eyes of google, make it no-follow.

[Jessemn]

I'm seeing conflicting answers on here. So, should a small website, which is struggling to gain a foothold on traffic, put up a "sponsored by" sidebar section? Or would it be better to list it as "Advertisement"? I'm slightly confused here...

[palme]

is it not better to try with dofallow and "sponsored by" . if it begins to decrease your pr. change it to nofallow and image.
why a company will have a link in your index page, because to obtain a quality backlink, i guess

[kingofsanda]

If you change the link to no follow you may lose your sponsors because
most people who buy links want some link juice, I think it would be
best if you do not have the term "sponsored by" on the page.

[kidsnscience]

is this how much help in seo