Question about link code

Can anyone tell me if using the HTML code below with your backlinks might be viewed as unethical SEO by Google and the rest? Basically, I want to know if by setting the text decoration to 'none' and setting the cursor to 'text' might be viewed by G has hiding links or something. By adding this code to you're links, it makes it so they just show up as normal text and when you put the cursor over the link, the cursor stays the same and doesn’t change to the hand like a normal link would.

<a style="font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; cursor: text" href="http://www.yourdomain.com">

Thanks

 

I doubt it is that easy to trick google, they probably give you a smaller ranking for a link like that.

As to whether it is immoral...thats up to your heart...

 

I'm not trying to trick Google. The sites that would have my links want them this way. For some reason, they want the links to look like regular text. My question is would Google think I am trying to trick them?

 

Yes.

 

Do you have a reason? Its just a style some people use. The webmaster that is going to have some of my links doesn't want the links to be underlined, I may be able to get away having the hand show up when the cursor is put over the link. Would that be enough to make it "ethical?"

 

Look, if the webmaster who wants the link wants it like that then just do it, it doesnt matter. If someone asks you to do that its not unethical.

You might want to tell the webmaster that Google does say in many text's that it cannot be manipulated easily, e.g. if you are gonna have links the same colour as the background they won't count.

 

Why not just have <a href="www.domain.com" class="plainlink">plain link</a> and include all the style information in an css file.

I don't think you will be penalized for this - after all you are not hiding links you are just controlling the style of them which is what most sites do.

 

Thanks mad4. I'm hoping for as many opinions on this as possible, so please feel free the chime in on my original question.
Thanks again.

 

Well now i just feel upset

 

Don't be sad Berserker. I'm probably going to end up taking you're advice. I just want as many opinions as possible.

 

It's neither unethical or incorrect.

You can apply any style to the A tag.

 

Psst... I already answered your question in the SEO Elite forum ;-)

Brad