You SHOULD buy links if you care about your rankings. You SHOULD buy links if you want to rank for very competitive terms. You SHOULD buy links because Google can't stop you. You SHOULD buy links because it guarantees results. You SHOULD buy links because it costs way less than PPC. You SHOULD buy links because you will get long-term results. You SHOULD buy links because Google has no real way of identifying bought links. You SHOULD buy links because your competitors are doing it to outrank you. You SHOULD buy links because it's not Black Hat; it's Paid Inclusion.
This is the only one I disagree with. They have been doing a pretty good job of identifying who is selling links for PR and adjusting results. I agree with you on all your other points though. I say if you want to buy links, you should. Just be careful about how the site you're buying it from advertises it. If they have a "sponsored link" section, or text saying they sell PR links, google will find out about it, and it wont help. Your best bet is to do your link trading via email or IM, without any way of google tracking it.
I definitely agree. Sponsors or Link Parters sections are a blatant red flag; such links won't get you in trouble, but you'll have wasted your money. Direct communication is best. Good places to solicit are webmaster forums (IM), using whois to gather emails, or the "contact us" link many sites provide. I'd probably use Google Search with SEO for Firefox to evaluate targeted prospects & communicate through private email. Link networks and communities are vulnerable because they are typically small, and many are don't provide privacy.
How will Google tail down the nature of links if you are directly communicating with websites owner through mails or phones?? I agree that Google can trace the bought links, however, at very minimal level, they could not have any algo that can differentiate paid links and normal backlinks in general...
One of my friend vigorously buy links from all type of web directories for his websites network and seems to be doing pretty good ... none of his website has been penalized in last one year or so, even though he doesn't take any precautionary measures like communicating through IM, etc ...
one way they can do it is by the statistical makeup of your link resources. What looks 'odd' (a site with 10 PR5 links, and no pr 0.00121???? Mmm... interesting.)
I do not have to spend any single money when I can get good back links for free... hard work and patience is a tool
Now I agree with you. I don't see myself paying for links either. I'd rather spend that on a PPC campaign. Brandon
Work involves money as well, sometimes it is only a matter of money while choosing between paid and organic links...
Till now I never spend single bucks for buying links and I got good position in SE and get good number of visitors.
I haven't purchased links for a long time either, but if I lose any terms that I want to keep, you can bet I'll be out looking for links. Your competitors will do it, if the term is profitable enough.
Reading posts like this is like a deep breath after being on the bottom of the ocean. Maximizationator, you too are a cool motha f..... Thanks for posting in this forum.
I agree with all of the points. I think there is still value in high pr links. Does Page Rank still matter? I think it does, for now.