About Google’s “anti paid link” campaign

I have written a small article with my ideas on the subject here. What will happen? Should we change and evolve? Or will google make a step backwards to what things used to be? All opinions would be appreciated.

 

I think you've got this backwards. Google isn't banning anyone's marketing, it's not doing a single thing to prevent websites buying links on other websites. All it is doing is attempting to stop websites from benefiting from the transfer of PR that can occur when one site buys links from another.

What is fundamentally wrong with the whole idea of selling your links, or valuing them, based on PR is that Google can so easily pull the rug out from under the whole process. The situation we have now is not messed up, it's an imbalance that Google is trying to correct. It's natural that they don't want to allow other websites to sell their advertising space for them by offering high PR links that give the websites in question a boost in the organic results.

Traffic is what matters, and it always has been. Perhaps this new situation will bring about a new awareness about the very loose relationship between PR and the ability to provide relevant traffic.

 

Traffic is what matters indeed. I forgot to mention that. But then why does everybody cares so much about PR. What I don't like is why google is trying to stop all this. It started something and a whole industry was built on it. Now it just wants to change things again. So is it our mistake? Should we stop counting on these metrics? Should we finally evolve and return to the basics?

 

Google's purpose is to provide the most relevant search results. The only way they can do that is to stop others from manipulating the results. They need unbiased results if they want to continue to be the best search engine. If you can buy your way to the top of the search results by purchasing high PR links, then their results are not unbiased. Whoever has the most money will have the best rankings. That is why they are devaluing purchased links.

 

Very well said and interpretted by a breif reading of matts blog...

You are very correct that its about BUYING links on High PR 8-9-10 sites to exploit the
organic results as we all know thats its part of the equation in googles algo...

What matters is not PR but reaching the top ten of google for keyword terms that will help bring in vistors to your sites...

thx
malcolm

 

The best thing you can do is use Google to help brand yourself and not rely on Google to decide 100% of your future. Think outside of the box and work on creating a good and useful site. You can do that, even with a web directory.

 

Google's got your brainwashed well!

Google's real purpose is to maximize profits for its shareholders (and there's nothing wrong with that).

The most relevant results are not necessarily part of maximizing profits. For instance, forcing commercial results down in the SERPs so that they need to rely on Adwords to make sales is one thing Google is trying to do.

 

I have to agree with that 100%.... Money makes the world go round no other way of better saying it i suppose....

i was wondering if anyone noticed the bid directory that is using adwords and hasnt had a many submittions at all ....
yes i watch and count your submittions especially this bidd directory and wonder how much $$$ has been wasted on adwords ?

thx
malcolm

 

The bottom line is that Google is tired of people spending their money to buy links instead of investing in Adwords.

 

You got the point

They would care less if they get the 50% on both ends.

Thanks

 

Exactly! Sure, they want to have a quality search engine, the better the results, the more people will use it, the higher their income potential. We all know the importance of traffic. But saying that everything they do out of idealism is like saying that the DMOZ porn editors are trying to improve the quality of the internet.

 

hey do you mean that $$$ makes the world go round for google?

Hmmmm i dont believe it

you mean DMOZ has porn editors
i wonder if they are hiring

thx
malcolm

 

Not according to their original mission statement or what some people here have been made to believe.

 

As long as there is PageRank, there will be a value for that rank that can be bought and sold. Google seeks to protect pagerank, because it is one of the core elements that makes google who they are. Therefore, google will continue to look for instances where people are attempting to buy and sell pagerank.

Advertising is fine in their eyes, as long as it is clearly advertising. They are especially interested in high pagerank sites that have groups of links that seem to have the purpose of increasing pagerank, rather than appearing naturally on the page, or blogs that are selling words.

As to how this affects directory owners it means:
1) Be careful about selling sitewides to just anyone. There will still be instances where it is fine
2) Don't SELL links, Instead, sell the review process. You are not charging for the links, you are charging a value for the time it takes for review. You can still have a tiered system, but you might consider having a regular review and express review.
3) Be careful how you promote your directory. Be careful to avoid buying the types of links that Matt Cutts warned about. You can still build your pagerank by getting links and even buying advertising on related sites, but some things you buy may be discounted by google, so be careful you don't go spending thousands on sites that sell links, as you mind find later that your investment was wasted (or maybe you'll get lucky, we just don't know how deep this goes at this point).
4) And above all, make a quality directory with good content and links. Don't accept just anything. Make your directory catchy and cool, so the USER will want to explore your site further.

 

I think for general directories, the "guidelines" are more strict.

But if you have a niche directory then you should not have much problems because the these rules are not the same. And if they are, It should not affect your niche directory as much as a general directory. As long as you keep the content the same from other sites and within your site. The main things is keep the overall content the same.

 

To say that Google pushes commercial websites down in the rankings so they will have to buy more paid clicks is absolutely ridiculous. If Google actually tried that they would lose their customer base very quickly.

Yes Google wants to make money but their goal is still to provide the most relevant results to their users. They are the top search engine because their results are more relevant than other competing search engines. Once they stop providing the most relevant results, they will lose their spot as the most used search engine, and thus lose their revenue stream.

I understand if your a Google hater, but don't make up things that are not based on any actual facts.

 

Hmm, an established DP member virtually admitting that "higher PR links" give "a boost in the organic results". Those are fightin' words to many on Digital Point , where threads abound saying that "PR is useless". Are you trying to start another war? (BTW, I agree with your statement.)

 

No jim its true....

i watched a certain "Web Directory" come from pages Non-existant as it was so far back it didnt really matter ...
To being on the first couple pages for VERY important keyword terms just for linking with a few PR8-9s sites
.... so it does influence the results 100% as seen it with my own eyes

And thats a very big part of why google doesn't want anyone non relevent linking with sites with such high PR
as they pretty much will control the given terms they are using and you really cant blame people for trying as i myself
would rather babysit 1 link and not 100 links for fear that it will be deleted so too pay $500-$700 monthly for a PR8-9 is
nothing compared to spending $700 monthly on links on sites with PR3-4-5 that i would need hundreds to be equal with the 8-9.

The reason that its mostly Gambling sites .... Viagra sites and adult sites is that not many want to offer a link back due to
shame it may bring them or whatever morals they have and PAYPAL doesnt help much either so you can expect an even
higher amount of crap site submittions and also more off these sites trying to be included as thier only crutch has been takin from them

thx
malcolm

 

the very reason G wants to catch paid links is because they don't want poeple to mess the rankings at the SERP.

And PR is one of ranking factors even though it got weaken.

Apart from this new algo update, I am more interested in the new patent implement for ranking factor. All in all, as a leadning search engine, they are doing pretty good. I just hope they won't ruin the directory industry

 

Another Google lover
Don't you see they are trying to force ya to buy adwords? While for a non-competitive term you can spend few hundred bucks and get good ranking --can you imagine how much google will suck out of your povket if you have to buy Adwords continuously? Where will your profit go --if they ever come