Google has been changing rules lately and it’s banning lots of websites, especially for selling text links. Now, the only way to sell links is to use the “nofollow” tag if you want to remain G’s friend.
Of course not everyone is satisfied with Google’s measures and many continue to sell links, but the problem comes when Google excludes them from it’s index. If G isn’t an important source of traffic for you, then you shouldn’t have any reason to worry, except that once banned you lose the PR and probably no one will buy links anymore.
But what if Google is your main source of traffic and simply kicks your ass ? Then you definitely have a problem. I took KnowMoreMedia’s case, a blog network with a lot of paid bloggers and that had a decent traffic and revenue. Unfortunately for them, Google was bringing the most of the traffic, until they found out KMM is selling text links. Now their traffic has decreased significantly and they aren’t probably even earning enough to pay their bloggers.
In this case is both parties fault, because on one side Google shouldn’t impose this rule, but can do it. On the other side KMM was making profit of G’s traffic and should have followed the rules. Now probably they are going bankrupt because they weren’t responsible enough and didn’t took good actions.
It’s true sometimes we have to risk, but this definitely wasn’t the case, because they were doing much better if not selling the links and getting the traffic from Google, than selling links and getting no traffic or PR. Now they are earning neither from the CPM/CPC ads and aren’t going to sell links anymore, because of the PR0 Google left them with.
The conclusion is you have to take care what measures you take when running your business and never put all your eggs in one basket.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
This is interesting and pretty good suggestions. Every Business has risk not only on online. These facts are obviously very important discussed here are very good.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I am not sure whether this decision of Google is a positive on or a foolish. But this kind of restriction will surely help in increasing the security level of the internet.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I don’t think it has anything to do with security. All it can do is increase Google’s relevancy.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
two weeks ago, our pagerank went back from 4 to 3, but in the same time we came from the 5th place to the 1st in the google search
so I dont understand at all, but I dont mind (:
March 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
The suggestions given are good enough. Each and every buisness is having its own risk. this happens not only online, but also the buisness we deal with. But google has taken the decission which may be foolish, but the security will be increased.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The thing I do not understand is how google know whether one website is selling text link or whether that is a paid link. Are they through its spiders?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Google has many special techniques by they can find it..
Yes through spiders ofcourse…
but what we can do if it is our main source and he kicks us ??
March 19th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
A very good suggestion indeed.Risk factor is one thing that can ruin the business but if properly considered can help a business man to increase his profit.All these facts have been highlighted very correctly in this article.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
great post
March 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
stupid google always messing things up and always finding a way to upset people. what will they do next…?
~mike
March 27th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
The whole paid links thing is retarded. All we’re trying to do is help our sites make a little money, and if companies are going to use PR to base their pay scale it just isn’t good. There need to be some policy changes that’s for sure!
March 28th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Google has been doing this for years. And they will continue to do it. Because they have no competitor thanks to yahoo not accepting microsofts bid.
Sheff
August 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
How can Google penalise people for selling links when they place paid for links above the standardised results on their SERPs? It makes NO sense and it tyrannical! I hate Google!