Is it buying position in paid directories against Google TOS? I'm confused about paid links. Everyone is buying them and as i know that is against rules
The answer to your question is best addressed by viewing Google's opinion: http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66356
i not agree with your opinion , your Paid when your Submit It's not like your Buying Links, but you pay for prioritize your link for review by editor first. that not like your Link will 100% accepted. why not 100%? maybe you abusing their TOS.
There is a HUGE difference between what Google defines as a "Link scheme" and a Web Directory. There is more than enough false information floating around since the SEO industry began their post Penguin panic attack. Remember that the fundamental difference between a paid link and a paid directory listing is how and where that link is used and what methods are used with regards to providing link juice as a result. Directories seek to place your site amongst like sites relevant to a category set and in a reviewer based model where the end goal is to generate traffic, not link juice. Paid links are generally specifically designed to do non other than push power from one link to the next. I think when you read the Webmaster Guidelines and wonder into blogs that talk about this subject you need to be cognisant of the fact that a directory does NOT fit the description of a link scheme, link farm, or any other type of linking system designed to thwart Googles ranking algo. A directory is no different than the purpose of Google itself as a database web sites listed with some sort of order.
Pid links are not against google rules if you use them properly. Infact they can help a lot, but only if properly used. In all other cases it's better to be without them.
Look at it like this - The online Yellow pages is a Paid for directory listing service. Is it penalized or the business listings within it by Google? I think not! We have such a directory offering free and paid for listings much like the yellow pages and most of our listings are on page 1 in Google in fact. Directories are NOT the same as Paid for Links so let us not be confused as there are major differences.
They are and they always have. Penalizing is putting a site or page at the back of the SERPs. They do this when it is clear the site or page has been trying to Game their system, or for horrible content, horrible page coding, Having a FLASH PAGE (big no no), or Framed sites, and other factors. Google only indexes Content (framed pages, flash sites have none) so they go at the Back of the list. I see you host sites Jeremy. 15 years is a long time. I did that too for about the same number of years and site designs/SEO/etc for clients.. NO MORE! I only advertise today for page 1 listings in Google (so far 100% success rate)...
Yes Mia there is a disavow tool now which is actually a good thing to recoup a bit from the latest Panda updates from Google. I got this straight from Google's Matt Cutts via his youtube video on the matter. Google basically is a Content search engines so of course they want to index CONTENT. Full rich informative CONTENT. Some content scraping has been going on which was not authorized by the listing (or business owner) so google is giving page owners a way to recoup from some of that type of low quality content, and others which are low quality they do NOT wish to be associated with any further.
I thought this article from today was a rather good description of the reality of the tool.... Some seem to think its a tool to blacklist directories, and that is not the case. http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2219080/The-Many-Shades-of-Googles-Link-Disavow-Tool
It is really JUST a way for a site owner to control WHO is linking to them. Not a blacklist. Many site owners do not want xxx rated sites linking back to them, and of course you would likely NOT want your competition linking back to your site (in a bad way) as it hurts credibility (and your competition may very well do just that). I like the idea myself and am sure I will have to use it at some point as what I do is very highly competitive yet no one else I have seen does things as we do so that means Corporate will be sending the goons our way sometime soon enough.
I have been using paid directories for quite a while, and it delivers good results, if done slowly and carefully. Not too many listings submitted at once, various link texts, various descriptions. Also, it is important to know which paid directories to choose. I use this directory tool to compare their effectiveness and am quite happy with it.
You are correct EarthRider. Adding your business at other services should be done S L O W L Y (never all at once) to look more natural to Google. Your trip cook link you added is a Niche Directory and those are Great places to add highly related listings into (as long as your business directly relates to that type of listing of course). The BEST type of listing services are those which create Google friendly PAGES about your business (not just text links). Directory services such as the Yellow Pages are generic as they cover a very wide range of business types and can serve you well too (but are expensive). We carry such a service which is Top Notch (there is no better that I know about). http://easyonlineclassifieds.com/differences.html will give you an idea on WHAT to look for, why, and how to separate the marketing Hype from Reality.
I think Google is against too many Paid links . It prefers natural links , that is linking to related sites.