Re. Google and paid links. When is it a paid link not an advert?

Discussion in 'Google' started by gayc, Aug 16, 2007.

0
  1. #1
    I need advice guys.

    When is a link an advert as opposed to a paid link.

    I've been contacted by Shopzilla who have offered an annual fee for advertising on my swimming site. It seems genuine and the examples they have quoted on other sites seem very targeted.

    BUT I'm worried it would be classed as a paid link and frowned upon by Google.

    What do you think?
     
    gayc, Aug 16, 2007 IP
  2. vagrant

    vagrant Peon

    Messages:
    2,284
    Likes Received:
    181
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    My own understanding of it (from reading M. Cutts blog) is that they want (would like) the word "advert" or simular above or below adverts ... much the way google adds show "adds by google" or the paid links to have the no-follow tag.

    Who gave them the right to become the internet police i have no idea, but thats a different topic ;)
     
    vagrant, Aug 16, 2007 IP
  3. gayc

    gayc Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    533
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    108
    #3
    Wow so I can sell as many links as I want as long as I write advert above them?;) Only joking!

    I presume the no-follow tag wouldn't be acceptable to the advertiser or even not possible as they want to place a 'pod' on my site which I'm guessing I have no control over.

    I think I'm going to pass. It's £240 a year for what seems to amount to 5 links plus one to them. My home page is only PR3 but I hold the number one position for many phrases like 'swimming lessons'. I think maybe if I were going to sell advertising space I could do better than that with competitors adverts that weren't close enough locally to be competition to me, or am I being naive?
     
    gayc, Aug 16, 2007 IP
  4. gayc

    gayc Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    533
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    108
    #4
    BTW, does anyone have ANY idea how they try and identify paid links? How on earth do they tell a paid link from a link exchange or other 'valid' link?
     
    gayc, Aug 16, 2007 IP
  5. stock_post

    stock_post Prominent Member

    Messages:
    5,213
    Likes Received:
    249
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    310
    #5
    My Big Brother will decide and what they think would be rule.
     
    stock_post, Aug 17, 2007 IP
  6. Obelia

    Obelia Notable Member

    Messages:
    2,083
    Likes Received:
    171
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #6
    We are all just guessing, because if they came out and announced it it would be very easy for SEOs to work around. There's probably a manual element.

    http://www.phpbb.com/ has a really high PR due to the footer links on zillions of forums, and it sells a number of footer sitewides. IIRC it was reported some time ago that these links don't pass PR. The main thing you notice about these links is that they are unrelated to the content of the page, and to each other. So it's my theory that unrelatedness and sitewide links raise some sort of flag.
     
    Obelia, Aug 17, 2007 IP
  7. James Dean Nash

    James Dean Nash Peon

    Messages:
    731
    Likes Received:
    41
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    I think they use keywords such as cool links, sponsored links, advertisements, links, cool sites and so on. Text matching
     
    James Dean Nash, Aug 17, 2007 IP