SEO TIPS: Identifying Bad Links

Are you aware that there are links that Google frowns upon beyond those that are considered spammy in nature or non-relevant? If not, then you have probably never heard of paid links. Paid linking is a strategy that was particularly popular among a number of SEOs that had two ends they hoped to meet – getting links for clients and making a load of extra money. You may ask how that is any different from any SEO. There is a marked difference in the process from step one – and you will never see reputable SEO companies engaging in what is discussed here.

Link buying, in many cases, is more accurately described as link rental. To be sure, there are some companies they will sell space on their site outright for a permanent link, but the general practice of this black hat tactic is to rent the space to host a link on a short term basis – usually 30 days for a set fee. Google frowns upon this for several reasons.

1. Selling space for links is just one of those things they don’t believe in.
2. The links are often lacking relevance to where they are hosted.
3. The links rotate in and out so much, it is evidence to Google that the links have no value – if they did, they would be kept in place.
4. It is considered gaming the system in one of the worst ways possible.
5. It makes algorithmic ranking calculations fluctuate too much for anything to be considered accurate or moderately reliable which makes Google look bad.

It may sound innocent and you may wonder what the big deal is, but it is a huge deal. Google has basically put companies that solely engaged in this practice. iAcquire for a recent example, out of play. They have no business to trade on anymore. Google is doing what they can to run them out of business. For people that used such services, their sites are being penalized or taken all the way down to sandboxed. This is one of the worst linking strategies around, bar none.

As a webmaster, make sure that you know what your SEO is doing. A reputable SEO firm will disclose their strategy for your campaign to you – and it should not include a recurring fee for placing paid for links that will disappear as soon as you stop paying. Make sure you get permanent links! Don’t fall for any contacts from companies that say they can get your links on high PR sites, as many as you want, for as much as you have to spend each month. This is a link building scam.

What you need to look for is an SEO company that will build organic links from open platforms that will be relevant to you. There should be a link wheel strategy in place to create a cascade effect back to you. You should be seeing that type of sites your SEO can get your links on and know that you are assured of them staying in place whether you have a one-off package or ongoing campaign. If you cannot get those assurances, you need to look for another SEO company.