That's my feeling also -- what has link exchanging (paid or not) got to do with Google? -- Nothing, their interest is only generated by $$$'s -- they can smell money that they're not getting a part of and they don't like it.... Just like the comments on the blog suggest -- we can all start to report our competitors for selling links and create a great atmosphere of back-stabbing The internet takes another turn for the worse...
PR makes the world go around? Here's me thinking it only really mattered when it came to link prices and polishing webmasters' egos!
Even google and yahoo has directory where you can submit by paying $$$ Can we also report them as paid links ?
Good idea in theory, but how is it put into action? Unless it specifically says "these are paid links" how can you with any certainty know they are paid links?
Really google should be changing its algo so not so much weight is given to links etc which would be the sensible way to stop paid links. The way they are trying to do it is to have all the worlds webmasters change everything on there sites to keep google happy. Its annoying that google is now referring to link sales as black hat seo. Then again I and other may moan, but to the general internet user they wont care, know or even understand any of this so will continue to use google and us as webmasters will be forced to do as we are told. I'm not even bothered about links playing a part in seo or pr for that matter, what is most annoying is if I have brought links on a relevant site to help generate traffic and interest in my sites someone else can report me as spam!!!! Yet google does nothing about ebay/amazon/pricerunner/dealtime etc filling up all the top spots for electrical goods for example when they have no unique or useful content to them, then you dive in about 6 pages into the results and find a decent unique well written review on a small site that's exactly what you are looking for. Google should sort that before determining that we are all now using black hat seo.
We should start removing adsense from our sites and stop using Adwords, if they do not like paid links!
There's only one problem with that - there's no real alternative to AdSense/AdWords just yet. Taking the moral high-ground is fine and dandy, but it doesn't pay the bills the same way as AdSense does! Wait until YPN goes global and then abstention from Google is a more realistic prospect. I'm finding Yahoo increasingly more attractive.
yes, Webmaster community can make an answer for G. * No Google Toolbar * No Google search * No Gmail * No adsense * No adwords any more required? enough here
I think a class action lawsuit could be nearby. The FTC has not outlawed buying or selling links. They are perfectly legal and in the United States, all businesses which contribute to the economy are welcome. It's just a matter of time. Microsoft was huge, nowadays nobody uses their browser, sql server, web server and still people have a negative opinion about them. Maybe google is heading in the same direction.
Affiliate programs are a good alternative! The money I get from adsense is a bad joke compared to my affiliate income!
I agree that Google is getting to "pushy" and instead of doing what they are supposed to do which is organize the worlds information, they are tying to change the web to the way they feel it should be..... The web is about freedom and Google is just a search engine. Webmasters where already buying and selling links long before Google came into existence, Google has no authority what so ever to tell people what they should or shouldn't do. They created this mess by inventing PageRank and displaying it on the toolbar, with so many bright and educated people working for them please don't tell me that they didn't see PageRank manipulation coming... Google created the problem only Google can fix it, remove PageRank for toolbars and webmaster panels, and don't tell people how they should or shouldn't run their business.
What to say? Don't be a Google whore I already taking links off. Not all but half. Let them find out by results. They are testing the ground to see where else they can gain profits This is pure greed
Just left Cutts a comment telling him how unamused I am. Suggest anyone else who hasn't does the same.
this is completely out of question, how would you know which links are paid and which are not, a webmaster may even have his own sites and friends sites, a friend ain't paying money so the website has to be penalised
Its just amazing to me that they would even try it. This could be a potential bad move on their part. They are messing with a community that is high in numbers and has the power to cut their advertising money signficantly. Not a smart move if implemented!