SEO CheckList

Selling links — it’s one of the most common ways to earn revenue from web sites. And I don’t see why not. You see, not all web site models could earn a decent supplemental (or full-time if you’re as lucky as Shoemoney) income from Google Adsense or something similar like YPN. There are those who earn more in the form of sponsor advertisements aka paid links. And these sponsors buy links for two things: 1) traffic and 2) PageRank. But what if Google says that by selling links, your own PageRank might plummet? Matt Cutts from Google blogged about it a long long time ago back in 2005.

According to Matt Cutts, Google’s algorithm is designed so that paid links are determined and hence, given a lower or nil value in the PageRank algorithm. I don’t exactly know how what Google’s algorithm is, but my guess would be either of the two:

1. The Text Surrounding the Links

If you’ve written the words “Sponsored” or “Paid” or anything related to the two to indicate a set of links, Google will, of course, know your links are paid.

2. Relevancy of the Links to the Web Site

If your web site is about say, flowers, and you have links to adult web sites all over, chances are, Google would mark the links in your web site as paid ads (which they most probably are).

Now, why do I think selling links still has its value despite reports that some of those who did lowered their own PageRanks (aside from the fact that Google does NOT catch every single one of those who do sell links)? For link sellers, of course, there’s the monetary incentive. With regards to buyers, they like the traffic. Say Google does indeed not count determined paid links for PageRank, the traffic a link might bring is well-worth it.

So, what do you if you want to make sure that you absolutely won’t be targeted by Google? Use the “nofollow” attribute in your links. But thing is, would sponsors buy links from you? You choose.