Do You Buy Links for SEO Purposes?

[admin]

If so, look out.. Google apparently doesn't like it according to Matt Cutt's latest blog post. Check out out blog post on the subject here:
http://blog.linksmanager.com/?p=39.

If you do buy links, we would like to hear from you in this forum.. what is your strategy when buying links?

[The Old Sarge]

Other than our past forays into PPC, we have never, and will never buy links. Ads, yes. But not links.

[Duke]

Buying links is a waste of time and money. If you want good reciprocal link candidates, go to google and type in a keyword or keyword phrase you would use to find your site online. The chances are, this method will bring up hundreds (if not thousands) of sites that are themed as your site is.

Now it's just a matter of contacting these sites webmasters asking if their interested in a reciprocal link.

Also, be picky with who you link to and definitely take the time to check out who THEY link to. I know this is a long, arduous process but do you want to link to a site that looks good on the surface but actually links to alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pr0n in their backlinks?

[caminowebmaster]

Do you ever pay for a directory?

If so - just the same as paying for a link.

[Phil Staff]

Duke,

You are a genius. You are exactly right on how to find good linking sites and that a good reciprocal link campaign takes time, effort and patience. =)

No one can just "buy" their way to the top of the search engines!

If you want good reciprocal link candidates, go to google and type in a keyword or keyword phrase you would use to find your site online. The chances are, this method will bring up hundreds (if not thousands) of sites that are themed as your site is.

Now it's just a matter of contacting these sites webmasters asking if their interested in a reciprocal link.

Also, be picky with who you link to and definitely take the time to check out who THEY link to. I know this is a long, arduous process but do you want to link to a site that looks good on the surface but actually links to alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pr0n in their backlinks?

Thank you for that post!

Phil Staff

[Duke]

Do you ever pay for a directory?

If so - just the same as paying for a link.

I pay for nothing other than webhosting. I do not advertise in any form other than reciprocal link campaigns and banner exchanges.

Also, you refer to paying for a link as being a bad thing and I disagree with a disclaimer. So long as you are paying for a link from a relevant, informative and like-minded resource that compliments your own site then paying for links should not see your site penalized in the SERPS.

Of course I refuse to pay for anything but paying for a link should be the same thing as getting a free link only the party selling the link has reason to believe there is value in it.

Also, any directory that you have to pay to be listed in is a sham. There are many good free directories out there. What some of them do though (Gimpsy for example) is try to offset site costs by offering Premium Placement strategies. Google does exactly the same thing only they refer to it as "Sponsored Links".

EDIT: btw, glad I could help Phil, good luck!

[caminowebmaster]

so what do you think of the directories like business.com? and such like? If my competition are list there it makes it hard to ignore.

Though I think they are over the top - some others are around the $40 mark and maybe that is okay?

[Duke]

so what do you think of the directories like business.com? and such like? If my competition are list there it makes it hard to ignore.

Though I think they are over the top - some others are around the $40 mark and maybe that is okay?

Personally I wouldn't pay for placement in any directory but if you've determined that this directory is a viable resource that generates qualified leads to your competitors then maybe you may want to consider it.

I honestly think that nothing will bring your site more exposure than sound SEO techniques.

[caminowebmaster]

thanks duke

[se7en]

Acutally in the past I have bought links with awesome success taking the target site to a PR7 with just a few, well placed high PR backlinks. This resulted in the #2 rank for the specific KW that I was targeting in a competitive market.

However this was back when the PR could be more influenced, and of course, things are much different now.

[se7en]

Acutally in the past I have bought links with awesome success taking the target site to a PR7 with just a few, well placed high PR backlinks. This resulted in the #2 rank for the specific KW that I was targeting in a competitive market.

However this was back when the PR could be more influenced, and of course, things are much different now.