Things are certainly much clearer to me now, Thanks all. I just hope Google can tell the difference.

It was also mentioned about using the nofollow reference tag. I don't, and I see niether does WT. Does anyone here who sells legitimate ads use nofollow?

Why don't you...?

Originally Posted by ForrestCroce

Why don't you...?

I just never thought of it...and now that I am, I may. It makes me wonder how many advertise because of or PR without it even being mentioned. It is a webmaster site, and mostly webmasters advertise, so I'm sure they thought of this themselves. Will I lose some of them? Maybe. Is it worth it? Maybe. What should I do?

I will be on a future project (potentially) and I was contemplating using nofollow before the whole paid links thing came out for an unrelated reason: it would keep obedient bots from visiting the advertiser links and therefore give advertisers a more accurate reading of their traffic based on referral stats. The number of referrals would appear to be lower, but would actually be more accurate since the number of bots going through to the advertiser's site would be decreased, and there would be no effect on actual user traffic.

Just another thing to think about, that's all.

Originally Posted by ADAM Web Design

I will be on a future project (potentially) and I was contemplating using nofollow before the whole paid links thing came out for an unrelated reason: it would keep obedient bots from visiting the advertiser links and therefore give advertisers a more accurate reading of their traffic based on referral stats. The number of referrals would appear to be lower, but would actually be more accurate since the number of bots going through to the advertiser's site would be decreased, and there would be no effect on actual user traffic.

Just another thing to think about, that's all.

Do you think this would lower your advertiser sign-ups or make you lose some? Is nofollow the only way Google can tell how we sell advertising on the "up and up"?

I haven't tried it yet. I personally don't think it would affect my signups, although it may affect my repeats.

Mind you, the project in question is a ways off.

If you stop driving bots to your advertisers, they'll see less traffic, and a better conversion rate as a result. Not that it should matter; the number of sales you send them at the end of the day won't change.

I don't run advertising; with my site, it'll do more harm than good. If I did, though, I'd definitely nofollow those links. Some of these are implicitly buying for pr and not for traffic or reach or anything legitimately connected to advertising. These are the sites that Google is going to lump into the 'bad neighborhood' category sooner or later.

Originally Posted by ForrestCroce

If you stop driving bots to your advertisers, they'll see less traffic, and a better conversion rate as a result. Not that it should matter; the number of sales you send them at the end of the day won't change.

I don't run advertising; with my site, it'll do more harm than good. If I did, though, I'd definitely nofollow those links. Some of these are implicitly buying for pr and not for traffic or reach or anything legitimately connected to advertising. These are the sites that Google is going to lump into the 'bad neighborhood' category sooner or later.

That's what worries me. Thanks.

I've literally just finished a piece on Redirecting (Masking) Affiliate Links and there is a bit on there about paid links and how a redirect could help.
The code is in ASP so could be of use to you on SearchBliss John.

Let me know if you see any grammatical or speelnig errurs and anything I've got wrong (Not that it's likely to happen of course )

I'm also coding up a self contained class module for displaying, decoding and redirecting affiliate/paid links onto a page.

yeh i think they are going a little too far on this one. they are trying to control people and what they do

Just come across this blog post

Hey i read your blog post about that script last night Chrishirst looked good, If there any chance you would do that same in PHP?

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Just come across this blog post

Interesting read. Presumably, Google can lower the toolbar PR of pages on link sellin sites (potentially deterring would be buyers of 'PR9 links') whilst retaining real PR in the background (to keep the usefulness of such a measure).

Originally Posted by chrishirst

I've literally just finished a piece on Redirecting (Masking) Affiliate Links and there is a bit on there about paid links and how a redirect could help.
The code is in ASP so could be of use to you on SearchBliss John.

Let me know if you see any grammatical or speelnig errurs and anything I've got wrong (Not that it's likely to happen of course )

I'm also coding up a self contained class module for displaying, decoding and redirecting affiliate/paid links onto a page.

Nice script Chris, unfortuanately most of the advertising links are on HTML pages, so I cannot use an asp file include. I have decided to go with the "nofollow" for the moment and I'll see what happens. People who are buying for the traffic should no be offended...I hope. I will certainly bookmark the script for the future...maybe for the forum and seo tool pages that run ASP. Thanks!

well well, its a tough one, is this to far? i think its just over the line... im all for cleaning up the web and creating good sites that give you what you want as soon as you go in... but im also in favour of earning some cash, and reciprocal links as there is strength in numbers... and theres nothing wrong with a bit of helping each other out... personally id split the internet in 2... www1 and www2... www1 youd need a license to make websites on, www2 you can post all the pictures of your family hollidays and snaps of your cat as you like

unfortuanately most of the advertising links are on HTML pages

That can be fixed as well with the Application Mappings

Originally Posted by chrishirst

That can be fixed as well with the Application Mappings

Thanks Chris. I'll have to take a closer look when I get the time.

Here is something for you'll to read:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/how-to-report-paid-links



fastreplies

Originally Posted by dansgalaxy

Hey i read your blog post about that script last night Chrishirst looked good, If there any chance you would do that same in PHP?

Yep, Not a problem. I am on with it in between other projects, it's not a major task by any stretch, just time constraints.

In fact I could be writing it right this minute instead of this but I've just made a brew instead.

Lol.

Wait a sec could you explain what exactly it does and i might be able to write it myself xD