Does Yahoo Buy Text Links?

[GuyFromChicago]

The discussion started here and rather than continue to pull that thread way off target from it's intended purpose I thought I would start a thread on the subject. Read that thread, then comment here.

Simple question - does Yahoo buy links on other sites to promote it's products/services?

[lorien1973]

I think yahoo hires ad companies who do. Don't think yahoo gets on the phone themselves. Give these companies a budget and tell them to get yahoo shopping or search engine some additional traffic or better SERPs

I have gotten lots of paid listings to my directory for big companies that shouldn't even need a listing in my directory from 3rd party marketing companies. A few other "big" companies have purchased ads from me too (sitewides) - so I know it happens. Yahoo can't be blind to what SEO people are doing.

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by lorien1973

Yahoo can't be blind to what SEO people are doing.

Let's assume for a second that Yahoo is buying text links - directly or indirectly. If they are, aren't they telling everyone by those actions that they, as a company, endorse it (link buying) as an acceptable method for improving serps?

[lorien1973]

Yahoo is obviously trying to rank well in Google/MSN - not itself. It could simply say, "hey - google and MSN love links, so we are playing by their rules" - but they don't necessarily have to play by those rules with their engine.

I'll note that yahoo isn't doing well if it is buying links, as I hardly ever see a yahoo shopping page in the google searches. Or msn searches for that matter.

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by GFC

aren't they telling everyone by those actions that they, as a company, endorse it (link buying) as an acceptable method for improving serps?

Touche.

Or, as they say at Yahoo!, "Huh?"...

"Oh Yahoo! Why dost thou sucketh?" - Web Gazelle

[lorien1973]

Or, do as I say, not as I do.

Which would not be out of character for yahoo.

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by lorien1973

I'll note that yahoo isn't doing well if it is buying links, as I hardly ever see a yahoo shopping page in the google searches. Or msn searches for that matter.

They are doing very well in Google for the two terms those internet.commerce ads are using

I'm very interested to find out if they are buying those ads or not. If they are I think they have some explaining to do

[Voasi]

Originally Posted by GuyFromChicago

If they are I think they have some explaining to do

I don't think they need to explain themselves...its quite obvious. They're a business. They're a portal, not a search engine company like Google. They know how search engines work (link analysis algo's). They aren't just looking for search engine marketshare, but other revenue streams, like their commerce areas. Google only needs to worry about search, so no "text link buying" from them (could you imagine thou if they did buy a few...that would be just awesome..haha).

[lorien1973]

I see that now. They are doing much better with those keywords than they have in the past. I was trying to hunt around for that digital camera one I saw a few months back. I think it was on internet.com as well (maybe they switch em up or just cancelled it).

[AfterHim.com]

I bet yahoo doesn't care..."They" may not be buying links..."They" (yahoo) are buying a website promotion company...who are "They" (yahoo) to dig into someone else's business and ask to see how the machine works.

just an idea

[Voasi]

Originally Posted by GuyFromChicago

I would just be surprised to see a company the size of Yahoo buying links that are obvioulsy being bought to manipulate the serps. I would assume they get thousands of natural links without paying a cent.

They do get thousands of incoming links, no doubt. But...it's not the just link, its the anchor text being used. No one is going to link to their travel pages with "Cheap Travel Tickets" or their car pages with "2005 New Cars". Those are phrases that convert. 3 keyword phrases.

Originally Posted by lorien1973

A deep sitewide internal link is much more indicative of a purchased link, rather than a freebie.

I also think the anchor text is a big giveaway as well.

[GuyFromChicago]

You know, the deeper I dig....

All these sites are linking to Yahoo with the text "Cheap Plane Tickets" or "Cheap Airline Tickets".

http://www.wsbtv.com/ 
http://www.kirotv.com/ 
http://www.ktvu.com/ 
http://www.wftv.com/ 
http://www.10news.com/ 
http://www.wpxi.com/ 
http://www.wsoctv.com/ 
http://www.whiotv.com/ 
http://www.wpbfnews.com/ 
http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/ 
http://www.kfoxtv.com/ 
http://www.wjactv.com/ 
http://www.thejacksonchannel.com/ 
http://www.turnto23.com/ 
http://www.wtov9.com/ 
http://www.foxreno.com/ 
http://www.sltrib.com/ 
http://www.azstarnet.com/ 
http://www.collegesports.com/ 
http://www.marinij.com/ 
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3004197 
http://travel.howstuffworks.com/ 
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar 
http://www.tribaccess.com/ 
http://www.cstv.com/sports/c-squash/cs-c-squash-body.html 
http://www.collegesports.com/sports/c-squash/cs-c-squash-body.html 
http://www.cstv.com/index2.html 


I don't see how this could be anything other than Yahoo out buying links....

Originally Posted by Voasi

They're a portal, not a search engine company like Google. They know how search engines work (link analysis algo's). They aren't just looking for search engine marketshare, but other revenue streams, like their commerce areas.

Yahoo can say it's not a search company all it wants. When you're #2 in the search game you're a search company - like it or not

Companies that aren't search companies use Google or another player to power their results they don't spend millions to develop their own search engine.

[lorien1973]

sounds like yahoo is buying from text-link-ads.com to me If it is text-link-ads.com; those are not super-expensive purchases. Summed up, I bet it costs yahoo less than $2000/month to get that ranking. Not bad really.

[GuyFromChicago]

Interesting stuff. The "big guys" are out playing the same games as everyone else. Wonder who runs that department over at Yahoo

[WhatiFind]

I believe they are buying links in the internet.com network.. see here: earthweb.com, jupitermedia.com/partners, devx.com, graphics.com

Most of the links are to the shopping area of yahoo.

[hurricane_sh]

Yahoo has many shopping pages, they like targeted search engine traffic too. It makes perfect sense for them to buy links from authority sites - easy to operate and cost effective.

If they spam blogs, submit to free directories, or send mass emails like "would you like to exchange links with Yahoo?" That would be weird.

[minstrel]

They're a portal, not a search engine company like Google.

I think Yahoo might disagree with that description...

[GuyFromChicago]

I guess in all fairness I've never seen Yahoo come out publically against link buying and selling. Google's people are the ones who say it "muddies the web" while Yahoo remains quiet on the issue. Now I see why

Now if Yahoo was to start removing sites from their index for buying/selling links (and naming that as the specific reason) that would be an interesting turn of events.