After reading sitefever's article he posted this morning http://sitefever.com/is-google-dropping-paid-links/ I did a little reading and researching of my own. Seems the directories he was linking to are still ranking #1 or #2 in Yahoo and MSN but have disappeared from google. I also found an article from webpro news where they interviewed Biz-dir and the owner was admitting they have taken some big hits from google.
You mean the directories that are paid are being singled out? I don't think Google engineers would focus on doing something like that.
Of course they are. Paid directories are dropping like flies in SERP's. Sitefever lists a handful of them and I double checked it and they still dont rank for their own names.
I don't think something this big would happen without matt cutt telling the world in a wonderful link bait.
Yeah some paid directories are just disappearing from Google results other wise a lot of directories adding "nofollow" on their sponsored advertising and they are still doing fine
Paid dirs ARE taking a hit. However it remains to be seen whether free paid directories will have the same fate. Hope not, as that's where alot of my links are from.... DoA
Not all paid directories are affected. If Google was penalizing paid directories they would have slapped Yahoo, Business.com and many other smaller directories. This is about buying and selling links, not paying for a directory submission.
All directories can change their wording, saying they are not selling links but only charging for site submission or editor review. It is going to be a mess. Can't wait to see how Google pulls this one out.
again and again why does google just not focus on porn and drug sites. Why are they messing with directories ?