Google asking to report paid for links

Alan · 06-14-2007, 11:58 AM

I have just been into the Google Webmaster's area and noticed a difference in the dashboard. There are now 4 new links to the right of the list of sites, the last of these is "Report paid links". This then leads to a page which reads

Quote:

We work hard to return the most relevant results for every search we conduct. To that end, we encourage site managers to make their content straightforward and easily understood by users and search engines alike. Unfortunately, not all websites have users' best interests at heart. Some site owners attempt to "buy PageRank™" in the form of paid links to their sites. Buying links to improve PageRank violates our quality guidelines.

Google uses a number of methods to detect paid links, including algorithmic techniques. We also welcome information from our users. If you know of a site that buys or sells links, please tell us by filling out the fields below. We'll investigate your submissions, and we'll use your data to improve our algorithmic detection of paid links.

From reading this I would suspect that they would like to ban sites that buy or sell links - watch out we're all in Google's sites.

Steve Myers · 06-14-2007, 02:23 PM

hmm, glad I jumped out of the directory service

detoam · 06-14-2007, 03:13 PM

They can bite me. The only sites I would ever report are those by Google employees. The rule itself, to me anyway, is an admission by Google that PR is a failed system.
As for directory service, from what I understand the directories are not being considered in that category. I have read and re-read the explanation of that rule that Matt Cutts was doing on his blog and realized that the directories are a sort of an exception to that rule. I think that Yahoo would raise hell if the directories would be governed by that rule. Considering that they ask $300/year for getting a listing in their directory.

dmhcollectibles · 06-14-2007, 06:27 PM

I don't pay for any links myself, but that could be very painful for those who do!

midlandi · 06-14-2007, 07:13 PM

I dont see how they can possibly create any algorithmic technique that can detect wether a link on a site has been paid for or not,it has no different value(technical not monitary)than a link that has not been paid for.
The only way is if the website advertises the fact on the site that they are selling links, but even then Google have to prove the link was indeed paid for and not added freeley by the site owner.
But most of us get links via forums etc.So if they decide to trawl these for evidence then business will just be done via pm or email.
Either way even if someone does report you, then unless they have the url of the place of sale how can they prove it?
This is also double standards, why? If you pay for google adwords then as soon as your url appears on a website surely this then technicayl becomes a paid link!
The biggest problem we have on this folks is wether you are right or wrong if google decide your wrong then you dont stand a chance.

Just my opinion.

NavyCS · 06-14-2007, 07:43 PM

There is clairification to this in Matt Cutts blog. The concern isn't nessesarily paid links. The concern is the link being placed only because money was paid. Let me clarify - Paid is not bad - as long as the directory is human edited and the content of the sites are relevent to the catagory. Think Yahoo, human edited and paid - the emphisis is the edited part, not the paid. I think directories who display high standards for entry will actually be able to charge good money.

Alan · 06-14-2007, 09:12 PM

Totally agree with you Midlandi, I cant see the difference at face level of Paid or not paid for links, as for an algorithm, come on. All I can think that they could do is build a list of sites that supply paid links and if a page contaons a link from that site ignore the link for PR. Directories often have paid and free links, how could Google differentiate? And the Adword issue, one rule for Google, one for everyone else.

I have maintained for some time now that Google has become too dominant, it's time there was another search engine that had the drive to compete with Google at take away some of it's market share.

I for one will not be letting Google know who sells links!!

NavyCS · 06-14-2007, 09:29 PM

The algo would be easy to write and sites that sell links could easily be identified. The quality of a site and the relevence to the page the link is on - Google already does this - all they have to do is assign zero link juice to them and at the same time give less page value (not toolbar PR) to pages who link to non-relevent (even remotely) content/sites. Remember it is the searcher who pulls this cart, we try and figure out the best way to ride.

detoam · 06-15-2007, 12:40 AM

I would have to disagree. There is no way that it can be done without making some serious mistakes. If a human cannot distinguish between paid and not paid links that the software (which is programmed by humans) will not be able to do that either.
As for sites that have very poor quality, that is very easy to detect. Same exact content remaining on the site for prolonged period of time and really crappy coding, overuse of JS and so on is very easy to detect for search engines. In that respect Google (or any other search engine) really doesn't how Your site looks aesthetically. There are sites out there that look like total crap yet have a high PR. As for links appearing on a website that are totally unrelated that would be a mistake to judge it as a paid link. My site, for example, as themed for webmasters, however sometimes I post links to sites that I think of as interesting. They sure as hell do not pay me to do so.
As I have said before it is simply a way for Google to avoid admitting that they screwed up with their stupid PR and that there are companies that make huge amounts of money on PR. So now they are going to pound the little guy so the big companies will start loosing that income

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavyCS

The algo would be easy to write...

bhaveshgoswami · 06-15-2007, 05:38 AM

Hi,

Google didnt disclose how they will take action against paid linking. They dont have such features in their bot, may be they take manual action to the site that doing paid linking. Also matt cut clearly mentioned that Google will not consider directories in paid linking.

Regards,
BHAVESH GOSWAMI.

DjFlush · 06-15-2007, 06:01 AM

Finally

Bye Bye to all paid directories :o

eprosumer · 06-15-2007, 06:52 AM

There is no way for them to check I reckon!

detoam · 06-16-2007, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjFlush

Finally

Bye Bye to all paid directories :o

Directories are an exception to this rule.

slamriot · 06-16-2007, 05:23 AM

Hmmm,

I agree with the fact that google SELLS paid links themselves... What is google adwords? Paid linking, no it doesn't affect PR, but you are paying to get traffic from one site to to the next, that is indeed a complete oxymoron!

charlesgan · 06-18-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

I have just been into the Google Webmaster's area and noticed a difference in the dashboard. There are now 4 new links to the right of the list of sites, the last of these is "Report paid links". This then leads to a page which reads

From reading this I would suspect that they would like to ban sites that buy or sell links - watch out we're all in Google's sites.

its to help google improve the paid link detection.
and the submission not likely to result in penalty ..
so not to freak out.

06-14-2007, 02:23 PM	#2
Steve Myers Junior Guru Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 544	Re: Google asking to report paid for links hmm, glad I jumped out of the directory service

06-14-2007, 03:13 PM	#3
detoam Junior Guru Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 663	Re: Google asking to report paid for links They can bite me. The only sites I would ever report are those by Google employees. The rule itself, to me anyway, is an admission by Google that PR is a failed system. As for directory service, from what I understand the directories are not being considered in that category. I have read and re-read the explanation of that rule that Matt Cutts was doing on his blog and realized that the directories are a sort of an exception to that rule. I think that Yahoo would raise hell if the directories would be governed by that rule. Considering that they ask $300/year for getting a listing in their directory. __________________

06-14-2007, 06:27 PM	#4
dmhcollectibles Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 75	Re: Google asking to report paid for links I don't pay for any links myself, but that could be very painful for those who do! __________________ Fine Vintage Postcards From A Bygone Era Fine vintage postcards, stamps and more!

06-14-2007, 07:13 PM	#5
midlandi iWEBTOOL Moderator Contributor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,201	Re: Google asking to report paid for links I dont see how they can possibly create any algorithmic technique that can detect wether a link on a site has been paid for or not,it has no different value(technical not monitary)than a link that has not been paid for. The only way is if the website advertises the fact on the site that they are selling links, but even then Google have to prove the link was indeed paid for and not added freeley by the site owner. But most of us get links via forums etc.So if they decide to trawl these for evidence then business will just be done via pm or email. Either way even if someone does report you, then unless they have the url of the place of sale how can they prove it? This is also double standards, why? If you pay for google adwords then as soon as your url appears on a website surely this then technicayl becomes a paid link! The biggest problem we have on this folks is wether you are right or wrong if google decide your wrong then you dont stand a chance. Just my opinion. __________________ SeoModz Webmaster Discussion Forums Free Link Directory

06-14-2007, 07:43 PM	#6
NavyCS iWEBTOOL SEO Advisor Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 242	Re: Google asking to report paid for links There is clairification to this in Matt Cutts blog. The concern isn't nessesarily paid links. The concern is the link being placed only because money was paid. Let me clarify - Paid is not bad - as long as the directory is human edited and the content of the sites are relevent to the catagory. Think Yahoo, human edited and paid - the emphisis is the edited part, not the paid. I think directories who display high standards for entry will actually be able to charge good money. __________________ Memphis Website Design Military Benefits

06-14-2007, 09:12 PM	#7
Alan iWEBTOOL Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ayr, Scotland Posts: 1,064	Re: Google asking to report paid for links Totally agree with you Midlandi, I cant see the difference at face level of Paid or not paid for links, as for an algorithm, come on. All I can think that they could do is build a list of sites that supply paid links and if a page contaons a link from that site ignore the link for PR. Directories often have paid and free links, how could Google differentiate? And the Adword issue, one rule for Google, one for everyone else. I have maintained for some time now that Google has become too dominant, it's time there was another search engine that had the drive to compete with Google at take away some of it's market share. I for one will not be letting Google know who sells links!! __________________ ahb Solutions Consultancy and Web Development Seen a good post - Give some reputation click on the

06-14-2007, 09:29 PM	#8
NavyCS iWEBTOOL SEO Advisor Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 242	Re: Google asking to report paid for links The algo would be easy to write and sites that sell links could easily be identified. The quality of a site and the relevence to the page the link is on - Google already does this - all they have to do is assign zero link juice to them and at the same time give less page value (not toolbar PR) to pages who link to non-relevent (even remotely) content/sites. Remember it is the searcher who pulls this cart, we try and figure out the best way to ride. __________________ Memphis Website Design Military Benefits

06-15-2007, 05:38 AM	#10
bhaveshgoswami Newcomer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 8	Re: Google asking to report paid for links Hi, Google didnt disclose how they will take action against paid linking. They dont have such features in their bot, may be they take manual action to the site that doing paid linking. Also matt cut clearly mentioned that Google will not consider directories in paid linking. Regards, BHAVESH GOSWAMI. __________________ http://seofuture.blogspot.com http://webpromotionahelp.wordpress.com

06-15-2007, 06:01 AM	#11
DjFlush Newcomer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 26	Re: Google asking to report paid for links Finally Bye Bye to all paid directories :o

06-15-2007, 06:52 AM	#12
eprosumer Junior Guru Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 694	Re: Google asking to report paid for links There is no way for them to check I reckon! __________________ Yahoo Adwords Free £60 or $25 When you join Yahoo Adwords! [url="http://ww.e2save.com"]Tooth Whitening[/URL e2save - etosave etosave UK's Best deals on mobile phone contracts.

06-16-2007, 05:23 AM	#14
slamriot Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 162	Re: Google asking to report paid for links Hmmm, I agree with the fact that google SELLS paid links themselves... What is google adwords? Paid linking, no it doesn't affect PR, but you are paying to get traffic from one site to to the next, that is indeed a complete oxymoron! __________________ Do you golf? Learn how to improve your golf swing We are the authority on Warcraft Leveling Guides

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