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Apr 07
Apr 07
by Cameron Olthuis Strategy with 14 Comments
One of the most common questions I get about link building is what the best type of links are. While I’m partial to building natural links through linkbaiting and remarkable content I also like to throw a few paid links into my overall link building campaigns.
One of the reasons I like to use paid links with my link campaigns is that you can not only pick high authority sites that are relevant, but you can also pick the exact anchor text you want to use. Those are things you can’t always do with linkbaiting. You just can’t always dictate who will link to you or what anchor text they will use.
Although it might be a little hard to argue in favor of buying paid links after the latest from Matt Cutts you can’t deny that paid links are still effective, if done correctly.
In my opinion, Matt’s post can almost be interpreted as a sign of weakness on Google’s part. They’re fighting an unnecessary war they know they can’t win and itâs obvious they’re having a hard time finding paid links with their algorithms. But that’s not really what this post is about. Instead I want to give a little insight on strategies for buying links.
The biggest problem I see with people who get dinged for buying links is that they’re lazy. Instead of working on creating remarkable content that will naturally attract links they throw a bunch on money at buying links and call it a day. If you’re guilty of this then you’re asking for trouble.
Buying links effectively is all about staying away from patterns. If you’re whole campaign is entirely based around paid links that will create a very recognizable pattern that can be picked up by the algorithms and filtered out. It may even result in penalties.
Paid links aren’t bad as long as your overall link profile is clean with no recognizable patterns that lead back to the links you’re buying. When those paid links are mixed in with hundreds of natural links they won’t stick out. If you don’t have those natural links the paid links will stick out like a sore thumb.
As you can see by the images if you don’t balance your paid links with your whole campaign they will stick out and sooner or later big brother will find out what you’re up to and ding your for it.
Whether or not Google’s new defense against paid links will work or not is still up in the air. In the meantime I’ll continue to throw a few paid links into my link building campaigns. What about you?
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Great Article! I really like the way that you explained things here, and especially like the graphics. Looks like a very good resource.
How might Google differentiate the Paid links from the Normal links? It seems that if people don’t disclose this on their own, either with a Sponsor or Paid link heading, Google would have no way of knowing which links were bought and which were not. I think that the whole point of Google putting the spotlight on paid links and the Report-a-paid-link form is because they CAN’T figure out which links are paid…
-Nick
http://adgridwork.com
Very interesting points indeed.
@Nick: You are probably right, there is no way to differentiate the (paid/natural) links but if google analyzes the anchor text on those links, something might come up, like all of them having the same exact text…
Joao Inacio
http://www.jcinacio.com
Google has proven time and time again, they’re OK with removing whitehat sites as collateral damage, and identifying sites that have a good probability of selling links is a trivial exercise.
A site that sells links will link to sites like the second diagram more often than sites that do not sell links. Websites that get links from those “selling links” sites more often than the norm are probably buying links.
tla has really been pushing ctr and visitors of late. I think that’s a great move for your long term survival.
Interesting to see how a lot of peopel get worried about the remarks of Matt Cutts.
Now the spend a lot of time worrying, jumping from blog to blog to join the gossip, instead of pushing their own sites content and quality.
Why worry about Google liking or disliking paid links? Does it really make a difference to the majority of webmasters? The majority of webmasters (professional or amateurs) run and maintain their sites because they like what they are doing – not becasue they are liked by search engines.
If more people would concentrate on the quality of their sites and care a little less about Google & Co – the internet would be a better place (quality wise).
Just ignore Google for a day and enjoy!
Thomas
http://www.thomas-pilz.com
I run TLA on one of my blogs and over the last six months I’ve pretty much been sold out. Since Matt’s post however, the number of links has dropped to 7/10. Amazing what a single blog post can do.
I can confirm what Roy says, I have TLA on some of my websites with all 10 links solds for monthes. One week after the post I lost some of the links.
Does TLA have any numbers about this? it would be interesting to know.
I agree with what Nick says. Google is trying to put the spotlight on paid links, because they are unable to identify which ones are paid links.
I buy links for my website but I am rethinking it. I may eliminate some of them now. Especially ones that don’t bring any traffic and only PR. I am paying quite a bit for a PR 7 link and I get no traffic from it at all so its really not worth it to me to take the risk.
Well there you have it. It seems a single post on Matt Cutts’ blog has pretty much swept the ground from underneath TLA’s feet. I’m down one more link so it appears to be a trend…
Perhaps TLA should contact all members with tips/guides on how to hide paid links, but the black hat feel that would have night drive people away.
Great post … alot of people don’t realize that!
Darin
People should just get rid of that “Sponsored Links” or Marketplace header on top of all the links.
I didn’t realise that having too many paid links could be so dangerous.
Usually, you can easily find websites that can link to your site for free. It is time consuming but, who said SEO was easy!