Comments on: The Risk and Reward of Buying Links: A Case Study http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/ Growth For Persistent, Intelligent People. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:16:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: make genuine money online http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-193940 make genuine money online Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:37:14 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-193940 there is always a bug risk giving people money for a service you dont always see, i prefer to do it myself there is always a bug risk giving people money for a service you dont always see, i prefer to do it myself

]]> By: My “Top Ten” Articles for this week (Video and Links) | One Man's Goal http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-30998 My “Top Ten” Articles for this week (Video and Links) | One Man's Goal Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:26:44 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-30998 [...] Article by Marc of courtneytuttle.com [...] […] Article by Marc of courtneytuttle.com […]

]]> By: Trip Around the Blogosphere April 20, 2008 | Pajama Professional http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-30483 Trip Around the Blogosphere April 20, 2008 | Pajama Professional Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:51:46 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-30483 [...] considered a paid link. Mark has a great post on Court’s Internet Marketing School discussing the Risk and Reward of Buying Links. He goes over a very interesting case study and helps to clear up some of mystery behind why Google [...] […] considered a paid link. Mark has a great post on Court’s Internet Marketing School discussing the Risk and Reward of Buying Links. He goes over a very interesting case study and helps to clear up some of mystery behind why Google […]

]]> By: Fridays Weekly LinkBowl | Blogsmarter.dk http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29495 Fridays Weekly LinkBowl | Blogsmarter.dk Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:01:46 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29495 [...] The Risk and Reward of Link Buying. Excelent article by Mark Butler at Courts Internet Marketing School. [...] […] The Risk and Reward of Link Buying. Excelent article by Mark Butler at Courts Internet Marketing School. […]

]]> By: Ben Cook http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29214 Ben Cook Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:48:22 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29214 I understand that Google is trying to protect their business but they aren't doing it by improving their product, they're doing it by trying to dictate what other websites do. The other HUGE issue is what Google considers a paid link. Obviously if I say I'll pay you $$ per month for a link on your site that's a paid link. But what about if I offer you a service or good in exchange for that link? Maybe I will host your site for free in exchange for the link. Is that a paid link? What if you link out to your clients (which Google itself does in several different places)... is that paid? Obviously if they hadn't given you their business, you wouldn't be linking to them so that's a monetary motive behind the link. Are reciprocal links paid links? What about affiliate links? My point is, Google is trying to dictate how people link to each other and that's messing with the very fabric of the internet. Sure you can do whatever you want and not be allowed in Google but with 65% of the searches in the US going through Google, is that really an option anymore? There is such a thing in the US as unfair business practices and IMO Google has crossed that line. I understand that Google is trying to protect their business but they aren’t doing it by improving their product, they’re doing it by trying to dictate what other websites do.

The other HUGE issue is what Google considers a paid link. Obviously if I say I’ll pay you $$ per month for a link on your site that’s a paid link. But what about if I offer you a service or good in exchange for that link? Maybe I will host your site for free in exchange for the link. Is that a paid link? What if you link out to your clients (which Google itself does in several different places)… is that paid? Obviously if they hadn’t given you their business, you wouldn’t be linking to them so that’s a monetary motive behind the link. Are reciprocal links paid links? What about affiliate links?

My point is, Google is trying to dictate how people link to each other and that’s messing with the very fabric of the internet. Sure you can do whatever you want and not be allowed in Google but with 65% of the searches in the US going through Google, is that really an option anymore? There is such a thing in the US as unfair business practices and IMO Google has crossed that line.

]]> By: Nicole Price http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29121 Nicole Price Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:50:11 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29121 Gosh those were some really interesting comments to read. I think having such an informed and argumentative but civilized discussion ensue from your blog post is a dream for every blogger! Gosh those were some really interesting comments to read. I think having such an informed and argumentative but civilized discussion ensue from your blog post is a dream for every blogger!

]]> By: Jon T http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29090 Jon T Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:34:52 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29090 You can say what you want about Google having a problem with you buying links without no-follow attachedm but the problem is that Google is not taking its own rules seriously enough. As mentioned earlier, Google cannot always 100% distinguish between a paid link or a organic link. This is massive problem, and it is Google's problem. How am I supposed to rank on Google without buying links, when Google is recognising the paid links that some of my competitors have had in place for years? Lets look at this example... famous Gambling (won't call out a name, you can look) ranks No.1 on Google undisputably for 'Online Casino' - the entire site has a silly amount of links poiting into with chosen anchor texts - who can imagine a gambling site getting 300,000+ organics links with many that just happen to be with the appropriate anchor text! Surely google has manually reviewed and checked the No.1 ranking site for such a term (im sure they rank very well for many others!) but it has not received a penalty? I wonder why? Sounds dodgy to me. If Google wanted to get serious about stopping paid links it would start penalizing the 'BIG' sites that are ranking well and clearly buying links. If Google don't do this then they are basically saying to other sites 'you can't compete unless you buy links'. Anchor text is one of the major problems... come on, who would seriously link to someone with only the words 'Online Poker UK'? But if you wanna rank for that term, thats what you gotta do and the only way you can get those links with that chosen anchor text is by BUYING IT! It's a massive catch 22 put in place by G. You can say what you want about Google having a problem with you buying links without no-follow attachedm but the problem is that Google is not taking its own rules seriously enough. As mentioned earlier, Google cannot always 100% distinguish between a paid link or a organic link. This is massive problem, and it is Google’s problem.

How am I supposed to rank on Google without buying links, when Google is recognising the paid links that some of my competitors have had in place for years?

Lets look at this example… famous Gambling (won’t call out a name, you can look) ranks No.1 on Google undisputably for ‘Online Casino’ - the entire site has a silly amount of links poiting into with chosen anchor texts - who can imagine a gambling site getting 300,000+ organics links with many that just happen to be with the appropriate anchor text! Surely google has manually reviewed and checked the No.1 ranking site for such a term (im sure they rank very well for many others!) but it has not received a penalty? I wonder why? Sounds dodgy to me. If Google wanted to get serious about stopping paid links it would start penalizing the ‘BIG’ sites that are ranking well and clearly buying links. If Google don’t do this then they are basically saying to other sites ‘you can’t compete unless you buy links’.

Anchor text is one of the major problems… come on, who would seriously link to someone with only the words ‘Online Poker UK’? But if you wanna rank for that term, thats what you gotta do and the only way you can get those links with that chosen anchor text is by BUYING IT! It’s a massive catch 22 put in place by G.

]]> By: Geoserv http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29077 Geoserv Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:54:08 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29077 STUMBLED! Its a grey area right now. VOTED for you at: http://www.newsdots.com/industrynews/a-case-study-internet-marketing-strategy-services/ STUMBLED!

Its a grey area right now.

VOTED for you at:
http://www.newsdots.com/industrynews/a-case-study-internet-marketing-strategy-services/

]]> By: Top Stumbles - Best of StumbleUpon http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29076 Top Stumbles - Best of StumbleUpon Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:51:52 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29076 <strong>The Risk and Reward of Buying Links: A Case Study | Internet Marketing | Strategy & Services</strong> In spite of all the controversy and backlash we've seen in the last few months stemming from the purchase and sale of links that pass ... The Risk and Reward of Buying Links: A Case Study | Internet Marketing | Strategy & Services

In spite of all the controversy and backlash we’ve seen in the last few months stemming from the purchase and sale of links that pass …

]]> By: Peter http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29050 Peter Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:12:53 +0000 http://courtneytuttle.com/2008/04/15/the-risk-and-reward-of-buying-links-a-case-study/#comment-29050 Ben, your arguments are easily refuted. Pagerank is Google's creation. Yes, they attatched it to links. Google ONLY needs people to put nofollow tags on purchased links if people want Google to look favorably upon them. It's Google's service, they created it, and if you want to benefit from it, you'll play by their rules. You're right on the second point also - Buying a link isn't necessarily trying to game Google. So, if you're not interested in gaming Google, you have no problem putting a nofollow tag on purchased links. Your last point is the best one - "Google tries to kill off an online advertising model that they don't control". Google has stated MANY times that buying links is not inherently wrong in their eyes - they understand the value of it. Their problem comes with links that pass pagerank because they don't have a nofollow tag on them. So, this business that they are "killing" is directly related to their business - the advertising model NOT related to Google is just fine in their eyes. I don't like how much power Google has right now either - and I hate the fact that we have to listen to what they say to remain competitive. However, the idea that they are being unfair in protecting their business is childish and one sided. Ben, your arguments are easily refuted.

Pagerank is Google’s creation. Yes, they attatched it to links. Google ONLY needs people to put nofollow tags on purchased links if people want Google to look favorably upon them. It’s Google’s service, they created it, and if you want to benefit from it, you’ll play by their rules.

You’re right on the second point also - Buying a link isn’t necessarily trying to game Google. So, if you’re not interested in gaming Google, you have no problem putting a nofollow tag on purchased links.

Your last point is the best one - “Google tries to kill off an online advertising model that they don’t control”. Google has stated MANY times that buying links is not inherently wrong in their eyes - they understand the value of it. Their problem comes with links that pass pagerank because they don’t have a nofollow tag on them. So, this business that they are “killing” is directly related to their business - the advertising model NOT related to Google is just fine in their eyes.

I don’t like how much power Google has right now either - and I hate the fact that we have to listen to what they say to remain competitive. However, the idea that they are being unfair in protecting their business is childish and one sided.

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