For the first time ever, Google has begun to penalize the Pagerank of sites that are known for selling links. This is a big milestone because historically Google has simply kept that site from passing link juice. Now they are going for the jugular. http://www.google-kai.com/google-pagerank-penalties-for-selling-text-link-ads.html Of course, we have a situation where these (currently high profile) sites have sold DETECTABLE links (the same kind of DETECTABLE the Useless Link Checker finds with ease ). Just in case you guys aren't up on the latest in blog land, things are about to get heavy if you are selling a detectable link (or buying detectable links). You may want to check out the blogs: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&tab=wb&q=paid+links Brandon
Hey there, I really wish google would not go after the little guys. Sometimes people have really great websites and need them to be boosted by those paid links. If building links was all natural, the little guys would never catch up to the bigger websites. I guess most of the time though crap sites are getting up in the rankings by this. I would hate to see the quality sites harmed for buying links. Sincerely, Travis Walters
I think Google should go after anyone selling BAD links. These links haven't been worth anything in a long time. The buyer gets ripped off while he waits for Linkjuice that never comes. The seller makes money the entire time. It's time for the seller to be accountable for their actions and provide real value. They owe it to the people that pay them to provide a valueable product or service. This is why I created Text Link Center. I wanted to create an infrastructure that made it easy to both big guys and little guys to provide a valueable product without the risk of being caught. Brandon
This really sucks. I guess Google wants you to use their Adsense... Adsense is the worst marketing program, IMO. Is not for nothing that all Internet money making moguls, like Shoemoney, John Chow, etc. decided to drop it long time ago.
My tests have already shown that the Dirt Clod links is nowhere near as powerful as an atomic bomb link. When I build a site, I have a 5 year plan. I just can't be dealing with purchasing text links that aren't going to benefit me for the long haul. Brandon
This is a good thing - if people are selling links w/o nofollowing them they've violated the guidelines and Google is within their rights to stop sending the site so many free customers. Remember Google doesn't owe you anything. But the reason this is good news is that it will improve the quality of their search and have less crap on the front page.