The latest Google-gaming SEO scam: Pass on it

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by minstrel, Sep 12, 2007.

  1. #1
    First, there was the million dollar pixel page and its imitators. Then cloud tag sites. Then bidding directories. All of which had little or no SEO value to the buyers to begin with and all of which were or are being nullified by Google.

    Today, I read about the latest scam. The Million Dollar Wiki. Before you start thinking, "Wow! What a great idea! I need to get in on this!", please go back and read Google's guidelines on link schemes and link buying and selling, and then Matt Cutts recent stepped up campaign against paid links.

    Selling or Renting Pages on Established Domains?
    September 12, 2007

    The tenacity of spammers and scammers never fails to amaze. P.T. Barnum said, "There's one born every minute", referring to "suckers". He might just as well have used the statement in reference to con artists - there's no shortage of those, either.
     
    minstrel, Sep 12, 2007 IP
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  2. bomberman

    bomberman Peon

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    #2
    Nice and informative post but for me I will not spend $1,000 for page rent.
     
    bomberman, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  3. davewashere

    davewashere Active Member

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    #3
    So it's basically the same idea as Squidoo, Hubpages, etc., except you've got to pay to have your page there and they won't take it down if it's very spammy. Yeah, anyone who buys a page on that site is a sucker.
     
    davewashere, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  4. skidmark

    skidmark Guest

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    #4
    There is actually a company dedicated to doing this (selling pages for SEO purposes) I ran into them at a trade show about a year ago, but can't think of their name. They sell you a dedicated page that they themselves create that is very content rich & revolves about the topic of your site.

    If anyone knows the company that I'm talking about, please post.
     
    skidmark, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  5. skidmark

    skidmark Guest

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    #5
    I was thinking of another one. Also, from what I remember they weren't cheap with packages from $1,000 & higher
     
    skidmark, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  6. Noddegamra

    Noddegamra Peon

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    #6
    Wow thanks for the info. I hadn't even heard of that yet. I can see how people might fall for it. I'm sure many will find this info very useful :)
     
    Noddegamra, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  7. Mong

    Mong ↓↘→ horsePower

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    #7
    Wow amazed if this guy has sold pages worth $50k.

    I think pixel website series started by Alex was actually not for SEO it was about traffic. And same is with top bids at bidding directories.

    When Google has publicized the number known as "Pagerank" then it was all bound to happen. And marketing has to be done on internet and to get organic traffic.

    Its not possible to keep this circle running without ppl buying links everything cannot be adjusted naturally. What's wrong if link is purchased on suitable page?
     
    Mong, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  8. Swordfish

    Swordfish Active Member

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    #8
    I think this site will be successful.. not sure if he will get to 1 million though.. but yesterday alone I beleive he sold 150 pages ($15,000)... That right there is success if the site does nothing else.. :)
     
    Swordfish, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  9. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #9
    Any traffic it delivered lasted about 5 minutes.

    Only if you're interested in traffic from other bidding directories or webmasters looking at competitors listings in bidding directories.
     
    minstrel, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  10. Overseas

    Overseas Well-Known Member

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    #10
    I agree with Mong - i'd buy a page on there for traffic ... $100 is no money for that, also i'd buy if it was a <no follow> - i'm buying / leasing many links for that purpose only - couldn't give a w*nk about page rank - it's so over rated.

    As long as the site owner plows money in marketing the site, the 627 page owners will be happy -- may be i'll be customer 628.

    Never close your mind to new marketing ideas - closed minds = closed business
     
    Overseas, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  11. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #11
    You can't just talk about "traffic", that's the point.

    Not all traffic is created equal.

    I periodically get bursts of traffic from DMOZ but it doesn't go anywhere. Why not? Because they are editors looking at my sites after one of my rants against DMOZ.

    You may get traffic from all sorts of places, including from competitors. That's not necessarily traffic you want or traffic that's going to benefit you in any significant way, beyond inflating your stats.

    Many webmasters don't seem to get this - or fail to remember it. And of course the directory owners trying to sell you a link aren't going to tell you.
     
    minstrel, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  12. Jasonb

    Jasonb Well-Known Member

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    #12
    thanks for the link, it was a nice read
     
    Jasonb, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  13. Mong

    Mong ↓↘→ horsePower

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    #13
    Yep its hit or miss situation and very clear to payers right from start. They tend to pay for taking part in the buzz idea and nothing else. It cannot be considered as long term investment or even investment.

    I don't have any bidding directory so cannot tell what's the source of traffic to these kind of sites. But if i suppose what you says then i think this bubble would have busted already which is not the case even today.
     
    Mong, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  14. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #14
    Only because the people still bidding on those spots aren't paying attention.
     
    minstrel, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  15. Mong

    Mong ↓↘→ horsePower

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    #15
    In some cases these are those ppl who have their own bidding directories so i think they must know the reality about the source of traffic then why they should 'waste' their money?
     
    Mong, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  16. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #16
    All that PR selling and heavy interlinking is what got them into trouble in the first place.

    Some people are just very slow learners.
     
    minstrel, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  17. SteveNO

    SteveNO Peon

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    #17
    I sometimes wonder if people even really do make valid bids. Such a shady business IMHO.
     
    SteveNO, Sep 12, 2007 IP
    minstrel likes this.
  18. trichnosis

    trichnosis Prominent Member

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    #18
    article was very good.

    it was intresting to read.

    thanks
     
    trichnosis, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  19. vixual

    vixual Peon

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    #19
    Nice article. Some people might fall for it..
     
    vixual, Sep 12, 2007 IP
  20. movidalatina

    movidalatina Well-Known Member

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    #20
    I think you are misguided and all the post you have here
    on DP have gone for naught. Aswell as the reading of threads
    you've done.
    I see that you are one of those that lives and
    breaths Google PR. some dont give a crap about PR.
    alot of people just want traffic, because you never know
    where your next customer will come from.
    "Any traffic it delivered lasted 5 minutes"
    Super bowl commercials cost Average :30 second Spot
    Cost, $2.3 Million.

    LOL you would tell Monster.com, Godaddy.com, e-Trade.com
    that they are wasting their money for "any traffic would
    last just 5 minutes"?? LMAO
    obviously not employed on madison ave.

    what a dumb thread and idea altogether.
    LOL
     
    movidalatina, Sep 12, 2007 IP