Inadvertently linking into bad neighborhoods

[classifieds]

I have a lot of MLM/network marketing/affiliate types that post classified ads on my site. I allow them to include a URL in the ad if they desire. Most of them have some type of replicated webpage/sub-domain, landing page or affiliate web site (I screen out the ones that violate FTC guidlines).

My concern is that I could be inadvertently linking into a bad neighborhood and be penalized. Most of these advertisers do not care about IBLs/PR so I was considering putting the following wrapper around the OBLs:

<form name="myform" action="http://www.domain.com/somepage.html">
<a href="javascript:document.myform.submit()">Click here</a>

I found this somewhere on the web and the article stated that “the crawlers would ignore the URL in the form.”

Any truth to this statement?

Suggestions, thoughts or opinions would be appreciated!


-jay

[Will.Spencer]

I'm using a slightly more simple JavaScript link format:

<a href="javascript:var handle=window.open('URLHERE')">ANCHORTEXTHERE</a>

[classifieds]

Thanks Will,

I was beginning to think I had body odor.

The crawlers don't pick the URL out of the script?

-jay

[Catfish]

Yeah except that your posts could go down as people realize that they get no page rank or link benefit from posting on your site.

[classifieds]

I understand.

Most of the ads I'm talking about are run for 60 days or less (similar to the local free print publications (penny pincher/thrifty nickel/recycler).

I am adding a Business Directory category for companies interested in longer term placement and IBL/PR (still free but supervised).

Thanks for the clarification!

-jay

[barrow]

Yeah except that your posts could go down as people realize that they get no page rank or link benefit from posting on your site.

This is exactly what I was thinking, seems like a big problem to me.