It aint. How is it any different from various scripts forcing people to backlink on freebie versions of their software? It aint. Did these people get targeted by Google. Nope, because they were gunning for Directory Owners and it seems that they still are (Sorry to hear about that Mikey). Couldn't agree more.
Recently read about Jeff (aviva directory) recovering from the penalty/ban. He was also using WP and directory script themes extensively to promote his directory. He stopped that to regain his SERPs @Mikey: Sorry to hear about fruity directory man.. Looks like big G is monitoring your activities ! There is enough evidence that sponsoring a WP theme can get you banned in big G.
Yes it is in certain circumstances. Scripts using your word 'forcing' are not doing so to get backlinks just for the sake of PR climbing, they are doing it because they deserve to, we spend fortunes making products for people to use at no cost, why shouldn't we get some appreciation back? With certain examples of sponsored themes they were patently sponsoring themes particularly wordpress ones because they were easy to code with a sole purpose of manipulating PR. There's a massive difference.
Jamie: I see the difference between wp themes and directory scripts (as an example). But in that case can the scripts get the 'appreciation back' by using a 'nofollow'? I think that will be 'just'
I suppose they could, the only argument against that is many people actually do a search for a script using the 'powered by' function, would a nofollow take away that benefit?
could it be that it's yet another directory could it be the script it's using could it be that paid links were bought could it be the method of sponsoring themes dun dun dun dunnnnn.... i guess we'll never know about the fruit.
lol, your nuts (in a nice way of course). you missed a 'dun' or two. Play it in your mind, dun dun dun dun dun.
Nofollow would of course take away the benefit. So the only conclusion we have reached here is that wp sponsorships and backlinks from scripts are an attempt to manipulate SERPs (which google may not like). Now it's a question of which is worse (according to google). We can assume that google also pays some thoughts to this and we haven't seen any penalty / ban for scripts as we have seen for WP-Themes and Directory-Templates. I would say that 'designer link' on wp-themes should fall in the same category as 'power by' link for directories if designer link points to actually wp-theme designer website. But it's an open question whether the big G likes it Are you sure about 'powered by' keyword? I am surprised that people actually search using that phrase
An0n: you are right about SE's inability to determine the exact reason for the links but they have taken a stance against theme sponsorship.
I never assume anything it spells ASS out of U and ME. I don't want to look an ASS. There is not one script that is attempting to manipulate the serps. Normally I'd be able to agree, the problem is that the 'sponsor' as desperate as they have shown in the past will see this as a chance to exploit and say they are the designers. With scripts this doesn't happen. From feedback given to me in the past, yes. The primary purpose for the follow in a script backlink though is it helps monitor those trying to illegaly take away the attrbute.
In certain circumstances yes, but not all I thought we were talking about SERPS not PR. And as was pointed out, the nofollow could be used, but then there would be no link love and then there would be no point doing it right? With certain examples of scripts too Also I dont think people sponsor themes solely with PR in mind because most blogs which pick up free themes are general low PR themselves, I would think it is used more for SERP manipulation.
One of the reasons I have not updated ANY templates, nor have I tried to advertise elsewhere with any other projects of mine. Gaygle made it clear, and did so coupled along with the help of jealous morons via the 'paid links' submission form. One thing I do find funny; We find ourselves governed by a robot who doesn't know its a$$ from its elbow(even it is had either) and still get reamed in the rear-end. That robot is only as smart as the programmer(s) who wrote its funtionality, and basing the outcome on how many times they have screwed up, I don't care how many phd's Gaygle has hired, their algorithm is still incompetent. (a billion dollar incompetent algorithm. Damn! it pays to make broken things these days, doesn't it? ha!) I wonder how much longer these 'scare tactics' will subdue the general webmaster world. Will they forever be Gaygle's little eb*tches? Hell, I wonder what would happen if such a thing as page rank suddenly started to exist in the other SE's. Damn that would be an interesting turn of events to see unfold. Hrmmmmm... I digress...
I dont agree with the concept of giving reason that G penalises for sponsering wp themes. The logic is simple that G doesnt likes that you build too many backlinks in too short span of time. It doesnt matters how, either by sponsoring wp themes, or dir submissions, or article submission and so on. Always remember to build backlinks under different anchor texts. This helps you get rid of sandbox and is best for seo too.
I was just wondering how many backlinks does a story getting featured on slashdot gets in a day or another story in CNN or such news. Any terrorist attack or any celebrity 'slip' story might get 1000s of links within an hour.. Do you think big G will punish them? I agree with you on 'different anchor text' front. But not on the 'speed' of building backlinks front.
CNN and all other sites are established ones. G is having problem against new sites which is trying to leave behind the established ones with artificial link building.