Heya, So I read that Google are starting experimenting with paid link reports. I'm not totally sure what they're going to do with sites that buy/sell links - are they just going to decrease the effect that links from the link selling site have? Are they going to penalize the sites buying the links? But the main question I want to ask is - do you think this will lead to the fall of companies such as Text-Link-Ads? IMO the majority of people buy links from TLA for reasons involved with SEO, NOT for traffic so will this proposed change from Google really hurt TLA and TLA publishers? I personally don't make a huge amount from TLA - I have 2 sites on there and they make just under $100 a month. But that is still $100 extra that I don't want to lose. Just want to know other peoples' opinions. Thanks, Hodge
I think that text link ad brokers are exactly who G is after. That said, I don't think G will kill them off. All G can do is not value links from sites they believe (but can't prove) are selling links. So, even if they do that, how would a potential buyer know that the link isn't worth squat? It's not like G would reveal what sites are devalued. The buyer would assume that all is fine and make the purchase. /*tom*/
They still won't be able to do anything about programs like v7n's contextual... they embed links in content.. impossible for any search engine to detect as paid links.
The code TLA provide is generated automatically and therefore have a set structure so I think they could detect which sites were using TLA by looking at their source code. Yes, this won't be 100% accurate but could be used to some extent. Also don't TLA have that 24 hour "testing" period where they display something like "your ad here" with a link back to their site? This would be another telltale sign that the site is using the services of link brokers. Another thing that pops into mind is that Google and people who oppose the purchasing of links care most about sites with high PR. It's pretty easy to find sites listed on TLA from their screenshots so the links from big TLA publishers will quickly be devalued. With the decreasing number of high PR sites and increasing amounts of sites being targeted by Google, I think the number of people who utilize sites such as TLA will decrease. This will be true for a large proportion of the TLA advertisers, but only for a limited time. In the long run people will become aware of this situation and stop buying links from TLA. Hodge
That's what I'm thinking...I'm about to stop running them (TLA). They haven't gotten me any sales or $ anyway.
I had no links sold but in the last 2 months they've actually been doing a good job selling my links. But the kind of looks grim for them...
Looks like somebody is out to kill something by the looks of this other thread: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=293762 Seems there is a bot or someone out there reeking terror with text links being sold by proxy.org and threatening adsense publishers both large and small. If only I had the money and resources to fill this void that is about to occur in the advertising world... knowing it will be quite awhile yet for yahoo and msn to step up to the plate.
i think companies like tla will fall down or get very diffult days after this decide. i have removed all tla on my web sites and i will not buy anythink from them or any companies like them
This in no way will put TLA out of business. Re-engineering my friends. Google's just trying to stop things like this and not accept that paid links actually benefit the world instead of hurt of the world. Text link brokers won't be effected in any capacity.
I think though more people will start buying links directly from individual link sellers and site owners than through networks like TLA. TLA makes it too easy for anyone or bot to find out what site is selling links.
Actually it's quite the opposite. It's nearly impossible for a bot to detect paid links through TLA, that's the whole business model behind it heh
I think Text Link Ads will find a way to stay ahead of Google for a while, but I still really don't like what Google are doing here.
The first people who will get caught are the people who have sold a large volume of links -- like most of the paid bloggers. Then, Google will look at the list of site that are linked to by those sites and attempt to algorithmically determine what inbound links to those sites are paid links. It's really not hard to do at all -- theoretically. The implementation could be very tricky, but Google has shown time after time that they are fully willing to put code into production that is very far from perfect.
This is I think the most striking evidence of how this entire new spin is just an attempt by Google to kill its competition. If such an algorithm change occurs and the bloggers or advertisers are penalized for introducing TLA ads, I think that TLA has grounds for starting a lawsuit for "unfair competition practices". After all TLA is a direct competitor to Adsense isn't it? Best regards, George
Google could argue, why dont you use javascript to display them? Or some unique identifying thing, like www.text-link-ads.com/referal?link=id&pubid=abc as other advertisers do. Pierce
But they use long links and referrals, only that they are cloaking them. If I would use the same technique I'd be accused of phishing, but when Google uses it it's perfectly legit. Also the javascript thing is a little bit awkward. How convenient I mean! Any other technique would be punished, but no, not this one. BTW in my rant I am assuming that Google will not penalize only the links (similar to the nofollow tags), but the site as a whole. How do I know that? I don't. Nobody does. That's the nasty part. Best regards, George
I would avoid using TLA right now and go directly to the website/owner you get a better price anyway.