UK Newspapers Penalized for Selling Links

[enlytend]

Google specifically addressed the cause of the penalties that led to rankings drops for the UK newspapers and Interflora (UK florist).

Apparently, Interflora paid over a dozen newspapers to run "advertorials" for them. Everybody got slapped.

After penalizing Interflora and UK newspapers, Google has issued a stern warning that selling links on sites that pass PageRank can lead to a penalty in Google. Google specifically called this a “reminder,” because in 2007, they clearly went on record that selling paid links can lead to a penalty.

Source: Search Engine Land

 

[iowadawg]

For, google is to be the ONLY one on the internet selling any links!
All others, google will destroy.

 

[enlytend]

They don't mind everyone buying/selling links, just not ones that pass page rank.

But yeah, more or less...

 

[DU]

Add it to the anti competitive lawsuit.....

 

[MilesWeb]

If you are selling links on your website, don't just add the links write a short description and then insert the links into it. You can give the heading as partners. You will still be able to earn money without getting penalized.

 

[Registernuke]

This story reminds me of similar situation regarding J.C Penny about 2 years ago. They were penalized heavily for a link scheme as well which caused them to fire their Seo Firm. Coincidentally that article was also found at Search Engine land as well.

http://searchengineland.com/new-yor...at-causes-plummeting-rankings-in-google-64529

 

[enlytend]

If you are selling links on your website, don't just add the links write a short description and then insert the links into it. You can give the heading as partners. You will still be able to earn money without getting penalized.

Hate to tell ya, people get penalized all the time for doing exactly that. It's always risky ... unless you nofollow the link, in which case it will still pass quality traffic (assuming there's any of that to be had.)

JC Penney, BMW, Overstock... every once in a while they make an example out of someone "big"

Funny part about the latest one: Google themselves are running "advertorials" like the ones they slapped: http://www.seobook.com/google-advertorials

 

[iamseo]

As per the latest update BBC news get penalize because of unnatural linking pattern to one of their article URL.