I just want everyone's opinion on these few questions regarding Word Cloud links: 1. Do you think that Word Cloud links carry the same strength as any other links? 2. Do you think the Google will catch on this new fad, and begin eliminating the PR juice from these sites? 3. Do you think it is worth purchasing links from Word Cloud sites?
Not if it functions like a link farm. It's very possible. G may be catching many phpld directories that have same templates, same structure and same links with same description. It's possible that G doesn't let pass PR points in some of these. It does if it's a good one that avoids typical "SE unfriendly" features. I think this trend that is going on at link sale forum here at DP is pretty much letting G know how word cloud sites could be like link farms. The first thing you might want to check is the domain. If its purchased domain, you may not want to touch it. Some word cloud sites are built on a unique domain and few are well known dir owners (owners of haabaa and alivedirectory have their word cloud sites)
1. Do you think that Word Cloud links carry the same strength as any other links? Obviously with the amount of links on the cloud the link won't carry the same strength. You probably won't get a lot of clicks, however, it is still a backlink and a backlink from a page with Pagerank. 2. Do you think the Google will catch on this new fad, and begin eliminating the PR juice from these sites? We will just have to wait and see. I sure hope not, however, it could happen. I think making customizations to the templates of your cloud will help a ton in limiting the risk of losing juice because of this (I plan to do this to my own network of clouds soon!) 3. Do you think it is worth purchasing links from Word Cloud sites? Only if they are from my network Yes, I've purchased quite a few links on other people's clouds to build backlinks to my own network and sites. For the small price that are asked on most of these clouds ($0.25-$2), it's a risk I am willing to take
let's just look at it for what it is: <html> <body> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> <a href=""></a> </body> </html> Where is the value in a page full of href's? And even if it once had value (an expired domain), it will never be able to sustain it in the long run. And I'm not even going to mention how flawed the business model is.
Thats exactly my concern. A lot of people are simply buying expired domains with PR, then putting up these word cloud sites, then selling links for a quick profit. This will ultimately hurt all word cloud sites, including the ones that put a lot of work and effort into them. In my opinion, these expired domains with PR won't retain their PR on the next Google update.
We'll see what comes of it. I think if it's done right it can be beneficial. I am going to build my network right just to show you guys that it can be done
Linking 6 expired domains to a single page does not make it alright. All you're doing is buying crappy links and pointing them to a page that has to transfer value to 6 others.
I am not just linking the clouds together. I'm also building backlinks from other sources as well. These other links will hopefully transfer to the clouds through the network.
Well, I agree with you. If these sites are built with some unique substance and content, it may prove to be a beneficial part of internet society. However, most of the ones being built are simply link farms that provide a quick buck for the webmaster.
I know that's what I mean. You are linking the word cloud pages through the word-clouds.com page. How much are you going to have to spend on backlinks to make it work (or break-even)...especially when you've already spent money on these expired domains.
You are right. Any purchased old domain site actually usually won't keep PR by the next Google update. Often, they actually lose PR unless the new owner maintains the same theme of the site very well, in all indexed pages, which is nearly impossible even though you may manage to imitate and keep the site theme on the home page, but that's not good enough to keep the current PR. I think someone purchased an old domain several months ago, and that was his catch to get many people in his directory. But G didn't give the site PR in the update in Jan.
If you want to go this route, I would consider doing what CoolSitez is doing with his word cloud directory...if any word cloud model can be sustained for a short period of time, this is probably the only one that can.
1. Do you think that Word Cloud links carry the same strength as any other links? - They carry very little if any. 2. Do you think the Google will catch on this new fad, and begin eliminating the PR juice from these sites? - I think by default they are already discounted as Google is know to discount a page with too many (50+) outgoing links. And if the value is not already zero they are not too hard to figure out. 3. Do you think it is worth purchasing links from Word Cloud sites? - If there is not PR value, no traffic and at best a bad neighbourhood backlink then there is no value at all, the only value is the cheap price, but you get what you pay for. This is the best way to look at it, 1. 5 word cloud sites at $5 a link = $25 = zero value. 1 text link on a decent PR3 or 4 site for 6-month for $25 = Some PR juice and a relevant quality backlink for SERP's, maybe a little targeted traffic too. 2. 5 word cloud sites at $5 a link = $25 = zero value. Submit to 5 good directories at $5 a pop and get 5 better backlinks with a little link juice, relevant backlinks and maybe a little traffic. 3. 5 word cloud sites at $5 a link = $25 = zero value. Submit featured links to 2 good directories and get 2 better backlinks, some link juice, relevant backlinks and maybe a little traffic. In general word cloud sites are all about low-cost and a bit of hype, yo are way better off spending your money on subitting to some quality paid directories IMO.
If I link from my blog and other sites, I think I'll easily be able to keep at least PR3. We'll just have to wait and see what happens...
But your blog is a PR0 and was created only a few days ago. Sorry if i'm harsh, but I am willing to bet that we'll see your "Network" of word cloud sites in the "for sale" section in a few weeks. It's nothing personal...but the business model is just not sustainable.
I'm sorry, but that is not the blog I was talking about. http://xy7luke.com (PR3 with a ton of inner pages with PR) http://aimchecker.com (PR4)
A PR3 or PR4 or PR6 word cloud site is pretty useless with 100+ outgoing links. They are an off-shoot of pixel ads and the only reason pixel ads had a value at any point in time was because of the traffic the first few hundred of those sites generated when they were unique and folks were curious.