Matt Cutts: Google Doesnt Pass Link Value From This Site

A recent video from Googles head of search spam , Matt Cutts named If a site linking to mine gets caught selling links, what happens to my site? That video basically explains what happens if a site that sells links and Google knows it, what happens to a site that has links from the link selling site?In short, not much.Matt Cutts made three points in this video:(1) The link sellers web site should notice a toolbar PageRank downgrade 30 - 50%.(2) The link sellers web site loses the ability to send PageRank going forward.(3) The links pointing to your web site from the link sellers web site are no longer counted and no longer benefit your web site.But what about link buying penalties? Well, clearly Matt didnt discuss it in his 90 second video. It obviously, despite my title, doesnt mean that Google wont ditch out a penalty to someone who clearly buys links. But "typically" this is how Google handles it, they simply stop those paid links from benefiting you, which can often feel like a penalty.Here is the video:Yes, I know, the links on this site do not pass benefit. Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.


Is there any way to make sure that you dont pass link value benefit to sponsored links (apart from nofollow tag in robots tag or within the hyperlink)?


The analogy Ive always made is this. If link buying could hurt a site, it would be easier (in some cases) to buy a bunch of links on spammy sites and point them at a competitor then it would be to outrank that competitor (using best practices). If a site has a base of good quality (old, high PR) inbound links, my best guess is that no amount of (new, spammy) low-quality links will sink it. Those links will just be devalued, as described above.


Yes, you can hide the links using javascript. For example: Load your banners or sponsored links with a external javascript function and put the external java code into a folder you disallow google to read via robots.txt.


trying to increase link popularity by buying links is something most of the big brands have done for years. Once they are caught spend a fortune in PPC and in two weeks they have their rankings back. It seems to be all about the money to me.


Thanks God Google is getting smarter and smarter every time. Yet, I do still see instances where people can "buy" a link without Google actually noting. It is good that G is not penalizing but rather "devaluing" high PR links that pass on power, but what happens for those who do not "openly advertise" they are selling a link?


Google doesnt want to clear things on paid links much. What about if someone want to advertise site through paid links on high traffic pages? Is it not kind of online marketing and why it should be considered as negative?


Yes CONTENT is truly KING on the Internet. We need to use it properly so that our first-time visitors will become regular visitors. Its wise way of getting traffic to our website.


Im not agree with you. If you will see sponsored links of seroundtable, 3 of 6 have nofollow tag but remaining 3 dont. Is there any brand name issue or keywords...???


If google is SO smart to Catch or Found Link selling website.. Than what the use of Disavow TOOL.. I think google itself Confuse.. the Body language of MC is very Confusing, he himself do not know How to clarify ... 30% 40 % .. 50% . any Child to Guess and Comeent such type of answer.


Those are my thoughts exactly. They are pretty much saying, go ahead and buy spammy links... and then if you get penalized you can use the Disavow tool to try to fix it.


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