Dir.yahoo.com links aren't penalized. In fact, Google loves Yahoo directory links. How come? Aren't they paid links?
Yahoo directory does look like a paid link service. That is why you never find my site there. Joke : )
The Yahoo Directory has an editorial process and there are restrictions on the category and anchor text used for the listing. I think these things allow the Yahoo directory to be exempt from any penalty. If you look at paid links, most publishers have lower restrictions on what sites they are willing to accept, as long as the site isn't blatnant spam and they have the cash, site is accepted with any anchor text they want.
Thanks for the answer, freespace. Another question - what if whenever I sold links, I just did it like Yahoo directory. I had an editorial process and only approved relevant quality sites with relevant anchor text. Would Google still penalize me? Or would they let me off the hook like they did to Yahoo directory?
I guess I'll put a disclaimer on my site: All links have been reviewed to ensure quality and relevance. That'll get Google off my back
Or better yet, just state that the fee that is going to be charged is for the Human revision of the link, not the link itself.
Good idea. How's this for my disclaimer: All links have been reviewed and edited to ensure quality and relevance. No spammy links here.
All jokes aside, Google is not interested in going after legitimate paid link directories. The fact that you paid to be in the Yahoo! Directory, Starting Point, Business.com, Best of the Web, Level10s and WhatUSeek communicates to Google that you are a serious businessperson and likely not a Spammer. There is a big difference between a paid directory link and an undisclosed purchased text link. Anyone who says otherwise is either trying to fool you or trying to reassure themselves, regardless of whether or not undisclosed paid text links are ethical.
Good point, but that is not what they are saying. They clearly state that they are fighting the concept of link sales itself, regardless.
See, freespace uses the same error that Google does. Most publishers do review the links before accepting them. The only reason that Yahoo is harder to get into is due to the competition, period. If Google were to actually review the sites in the Yahoo directory they would realize that they aren't that hot and do not deserve any special attention whatsoever. -Michael
In my opinion, Google try to eliminate some junk site/directory that sell links without verified submitted site or not give any value to their visitors, like link could. Many webmasters do MFA sites and bought some links, especially link could, cause most of link cloud site owners just come to get some bucks and leave after then, and pointing to them. I think this would not be effected on quality sites/directory that do not have their links linked to MFA sites.
I'm afraid someone misinformed you. Google is fighting undisclosed paid links. The company is perfectly fine with disclosed paid links, though it will probably discount their link equity. Google is not saying that all paid links are without merit. Just because you paid for a service and received a link does not mean you have paid for the link. It can be confusing. Here is a scary quote from Matt: Matt recently published this; I suppose it could be considered an update: Notice that Matt says how to tell if a paid link violates search engines’ quality guidelines. A link can be paid and not violate the guidelines. But then Matt also says: So I interpret this to read that Google does not consider the Yahoo Directory to be a paid link, rather this is a paid review for which the website receives a link. I realize thats cutting it rather thin but that's what the evidence tells me.
You are right, however.... There's always a however. When people study business and economics one of the things that they learn about are barriers to entry. These are the things that keep just anyone from entering into a marketplace and competing. Barriers to entry can be anything. It can be as simple as the cost of equipment or as complex as government required licensing. Mathematically speaking, barriers to entry are variables in an equation that measure the statistics of success. When it comes to Internet Marketing some companies overcome their barriers to entry by rolling-up their sleeves and spending long hours of difficult tedious work. Others purchase their exposure. The hard fact is that the better mousetrap does not always succeed, nor should it. The barriers to entry must be overcome, preferably crushed, before a company can even begin its path to riches or bankruptcy. Purchasing a review which can gain one a link in the Yahoo Directory is simply one possible step, one of many, taken to overcome the barriers to entry to Internet Marketing.
This goes far beyond one company. I imagine that if Google negotiated with one they would be forced to negotiate with all or face civil litigation. Once Google makes-up its mind the company can be hard to convince otherwise. I suggest that the best recourse is for the Internet marketing community to debate the issue thoroughly and, if it can, develop some damn good reasons for Google to change its tune. Then the Internet marketing community will have to promote its findings on every blog, forum and web space it can lay its hands on. Should be a piece of cake.