Usefulness of buying link spaces?

I'm wondering if you can educate me on the usefulness of link spaces.
I'm talking about say, when you buy a link in someones signature here or a space on a website.

I understand that it's good for your pagerank if your link is in one of these high ranking spaces when google do an update.

But these updates only take place once every 3 or 4 months correct?

So you would have to buy a link for at least 4 months to be sure that it actually registered with the ranking systems?

Ok so lets assume that our link was there when an update took place. Lets say I stop paying for this link space. What happens at the next google rank update? Does my site go down in rank?

I'm making a lot of assumptions here so I need correcting big time(I hope) otherwise I don't understand how paid link exchanges help in the long term.

Ideas, comments and insights??

Cheers,

Tristran

 

Hi Tristan,

In buying links, you would have to purchase it for a certain amount of time to be able to know whether it has an effect on your PR and SERPs. However, you should never agree to long term advertising until you have tested it out for yourself.

Also, make sure to select relevant and/or themed links.

 

Thanks for the reply

I am still a little confused though - so you are saying that it is true that to really be sure a link will be worth something to the search engines you would have to buy it for a few months?

And the question remains, do you lose that jump in ratings if you stop paying for the link and google does another update?

Thanks for your help!

 

Yep. Definitely. You need to do this to be able to measure whether or not it has an effect on your SERPs and PR and you’re getting your money’s worth.

This is possible depending on several factors such as the weight google will be placing on this type of links on their new update, the relevance or quality of the link you bought, etc.

 

So from a buyers perspective is it really worthwhile?

It sounds like a bit of a temporary and slow pick me up to me.

Anyone else's thoughts are appreciated!

 

It is a temporary thing, thats why you should buy links for 6 months or more and thats also why natural links is much better, because they are usually lifetime.

 

I agree with Subzero. Link buying effects on your website IS a temporary thing (would last until you're able and willing to pay, or until your agreement with the other website is terminated) and natural links are much better.