What is the deal with selling text links? I see google adsense ads here like "Relevant Text Links w/PR Buy quality text links from the proven leaders." and "Buy Text Link Ads Buy text link ads on top websites. Sell text link ads on your website." and the same in the Google directory searches for related topics. What is actually being sold? From what I understand from visiting some of these sites/services is that Page Rank is being sold not necesarily traffic or click thrus. For example if I have a site that has a RR5 then someone will pay me to put a text link on my site so that some of the PR value rub off onto their site? Is this process OK with Google? I'm thinking that it must be if AdSense ads from google promote the process. Is this a scam or is it a legitmate process?
Google does not like sites that sell text links based on PageRank. That's exactly how phpbb.com was penalized (they don't pass PageRank now), because they were blatantly selling links based on PageRank. The fact that it's in AdWords does not really mean anything. There is no way anyone can expect them to validate the claim of every advertisement in AdWords. If you sell text links, just don't do it based on PageRank (or at least don't publicize it as such). And even if you do, you are probably okay unless it's a very high PR site (PR8 or higher). Google doesn't have time to police every small site in the world.
Buying site wide links is kind of a waste of time, anyways. I much prefer home page links to site wide links. Especially on similar themed pages (if the keywords i want are the same as the page title, so much better).
Home Page links are not as easy to come by. I've visited a few of these sites, and where they allow you to search inventory, the majority can't even offer 25 PR5 homepages.. (remember to read what they're presenting you - an example is: because we can't meet your needs in this regard, we're offering you internal page links at reduced cost blah blah) It seems at the end of the day, they can only offer internal pages when it comes to volume. Truth be told, if you want anything realistic (and long term), you should find your own. Now then, wouldn't it be nice if there were a links directory where the links were profiled as a webmaster needs to see them ? Imagine it. Instead of having to f around researching each possible site, right there with the link is a profile of everything from the regional audience, to Link Page PR, to inbound link count, to whether or not they force anchor text.. etc. Now that would be nice !
Everyone: What you all want to purchase if you are going for PR is PR8's. It doesn't matter where they are. I just was looking at a site that has PR8's on there contact page. Certianly if you do sell them you should to do it descreatly. If on auctions do private auctions and don't list the site they are on. Right now you can get a PR8 for $150 if you look hard (I just turned down a PR8 for $150US with 9 outbound links if I took it for 6 months). And if you can find one with low outbound links it will give you a PR7. According to the way I read Wakfer's chart a medium value PR8 with 3 outbound links is almost enought to give you a pr7 on the linked page. Check out my article on Page Rank Calculation and my new article I am still working on Sell Page Rank. *Note: I am not encouraging the selling for PR pages in either of these article or in this post. Just sharing information.