SEM Tycoon

**imported_Dan** · 09-17-2006, 04:39 PM

Hey Guys,

I recently read Matt Cutts thoughts on selling text links, he mentions how easy they can find and penalized web sites who do such.

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this?
Do you sell text links?
Would you risk have your site penalized just to make that little extra?
What kind of penalizations?
Has this happened to you?
Is it only google who's against selling textlinks?
Does this apply to selling banner links?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies and sorry for the mass questions. :thumbup:

**chovy** · 09-17-2006, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

Hey Guys,

I recently read Matt Cutts thoughts on selling text links, he mentions how easy they can find and penalized web sites who do such.

I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this?
Do you sell text links?
Would you risk have your site penalized just to make that little extra?
What kind of penalizations?
Has this happened to you?
Is it only google who's against selling textlinks?
Does this apply to selling banner links?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies and sorry for the mass questions. :thumbup:

THat's a broad statement. I'd like to see what about a link can get you penalized...

**Game Producer** · 09-18-2006, 02:42 AM

If you have this....

Code:

 rel="nofollow"

... in your text link ads, it should be fine. (But don't take my word on this, check Google or some other resource for more information)

**MonkeyBiz** · 09-18-2006, 02:44 AM

Make sure it is fine with those who are purchasing the links...lol

**chovy** · 09-18-2006, 05:35 AM

no kidding.

**imported_illusion** · 09-18-2006, 06:11 AM

I don't see the problem, as long as your site is related to the niche the link is coming from. Google's favours one way links more than a link exchange, keep that in mind

**imported_WoodiE55** · 09-18-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Game Producer

If you have this....

Code:

 rel="nofollow"

... in your text link ads, it should be fine. (But don't take my word on this, check Google or some other resource for more information)

If you have nofollow in your text links that you're selling then I won't be buying.

Dan do you have a link to the article you're referring to?

**imported_Dan** · 09-18-2006, 11:59 AM

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/text-links-and-pagerank/

**handsome rob** · 09-18-2006, 02:34 PM

Google does not like people buying links for the purpose of getting a boost in the SE's. Can google tell which links are paid for and which are not? Entirely possible. Could they be bluffing about that to dissuade webmasters from doing this? Equally possible.

**jmatthew3** · 09-21-2006, 11:39 PM

I'm actually a little bit concerned about this issue, as I make some $$ off of TLA.

The sites that advertise are definitely in-niche, but they're also PAYING me for this. I wouldnt link them otherwise.

Here's a thought: How buying ads on TLA different than buying a yahoo directory submission? Presumably, all TLA transactions are "approved" -- maybe the level of approval is less, but in one way, the idea is the same.

I just think it's a little bit hypocritical for google to say "pay yahoo for a link" but "don't pay these other guys for links"

**Mike** · 09-22-2006, 03:54 AM

Selling links brings no penalty from google, I have done it for a long time. There is a pagerank leak involved, but if your site is filled with quality content, you woud never notice it. I maintain 7 links on the homepage of one of my sites, and the income more than doubles my server costs.

Now, if you are running a "thin" site that offers very little original, and rarely updated content, then ads may be a bad thing for you. For me, I have never experienced a problem.

**charlesmartel** · 09-23-2006, 06:13 PM

Sell links within your content but don't advertise that on your site or in a public forum.

**Vi5** · 09-23-2006, 06:59 PM

It's only if you link to websites completely unrelated to your website and you do have some control there.

As for myself I am not worries at all, since when does how I generate money from my website affect Google? It's not like I'm passing on "fake" PR (PR that I've bought, not "natural" PR).

I do have a slight feeling it's too encourage adsense/adwords but that's just me.

**DreamLoverSky** · 09-25-2006, 01:10 PM

Hi Dan,
This all very much new to me, but I wantedto know what is a text link?.
can you please explain it would really be of help.

**MonkeyBiz** · 09-25-2006, 01:37 PM

you wont get in trouble