I want to find out how useful or useless are links hidden within html code, that aren't visible on the page? For example, hidden links within free templates. How does Google attitude to such links after launching Panda and Pinguin? Is there any information regarding this matter?
My understanding is that Google would hate something like this. At the very least, they would disregard it. This was a tactic done years ago but Google got smart and tries to only give credit for that content which is visible to the user.
Avoid hidden links at all costs. This used to be a common strategy a long time ago, but it is definitely a black hat strategy. If Google detects it, you will likely be penalized, or at the very least those links will not be counted. That being said, I'm sure there was still ways to hide links and get away with it. It would be easy enough to use css styling to make a link show up outside of a page's visible window.
Thanks for the answers. I asked about this since in the past such links gave excellent results in Google promotion. Even queries popular in Google could be moved to Google TOP. Well I'll have to give up old habits .. I will look for new and effective methods.