What is a “paid link”?



Can you talk about the webspam team’s criteria for whether something is a “paid link”?
Matt Cutts, Mountain View

Have a question? Ask it in our Webmaster Help Forum: http://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!forum/webmasters

Want your question to be answered on a video like this? Follow us on Twitter and look for an announcement when we take new questions: http://twitter.com/googlewmc

More videos: http://www.youtube.com/GoogleWebmasterHelp
Webmaster Central Blog: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/
Webmaster Central: http://www.google.com/webmasters/

source

46 thoughts on “What is a “paid link”?”

  1. No worry it is about a real links, i agree that paying of a link it self is not good that you cannot learn, but if that links has a value that teaching us paying for developing and the money not kept by one person for his own benifits for me i guess is not wasted or scam. lots of there thousand and real scam.

  2. how do you know that a link is paid, it's not like you are reading people's mind? of course you can see advertisement on forum's or websites for people who will write articles for money? but what about these who does not advertise, and only work with physical engagement? and more importantly, what will happen if someone decide to spam my website, how do you know that i didn't pay for the link, and i'am just a victim?

  3. Hi Matt,
    I am former PokerStars SEO manager.
    PokerStars has been buying links to manipulate SERPs, I have reported several paid links, but Google web spam report tool does not have bulk report option. Please let me know how I can report thousands of paid links.
    Regards,
    Serge

  4. I was wondering if this video is still valid now a year later. I see a number of sites which accept "reviews" of things like restaurants, hotels, etc from "members" located at the top of the G search rankings. BUT I've also been seeing a lot of solicitations from "SEO"s on certain pay for action websites (one run by G's 2nd competitor) that literally will PAY individuals (anywhere from $1-5) to open accounts on these sites and write a favorable review, is some cases including a link, about a particular location or service. Is this not the same as payment (albeit distributed payments) for reviews and ranking on these highly SE-ranked sites?

  5. interesting points ,if anyone else    wants to learn about  
    best backlinks for sale  try Greega Amazing Link Guru (do a google search )?  Ive heard some incredible things about it and my mate got excellent results  with it.

  6. I'm still a little confused (apologies).  What about a product review for protein-powder, were you actually consume it, so can't really just 'loan' the product?  Thanks 

  7. If I have a website with business directory and I charge for premium listings or even for basic listings with links to their websites. is that mean I am  violating google policy ?

  8. Wow, they must have some pretty sneaky techniques to be able to say, "This link here was only placed on this site because the owner of the site received a camera last month which he didn't return to this guy over here, so it therefore mustn't be a gift, therefore let's not give the other guy that page rank guys, OK? Look at him open that pesky camera gift!"  Whatever you are doing, Google will search you out and find you…   

  9. i am still confused, why he isn't telling us straight away about paid links. Coz i don't think google bot could scan my paypall or yours or anyone's! I don't think google could track my conversation on any forum or social media about seo link deal. I believe googel only match relevance so we still have a chance to target other bloggers from our niche to get uni-directional link.

  10. Would be very interested to hear what how the filter for paid sites views membership sites such as chambers and the BBBs. These type of sites post links as well as advertorials that are basically paid for with membership dues. Is the writing already on the wall?

  11. Hi we have been asked to sponsor a conference for the professional body in our domain, thus includes a logo on the conference stand etc but also a link from the professional body website. Is this a paid link?

  12. Matt Cutts  thanks for the video, its a nice way to explain how not to be a skeez ball it to my clients in simple terms. Soon as I mention FTC they be all like 'ok ok i dont wanna end up on American Greed' lol.  

    Seriously though it needed to be said, basically we need to be ethical to support the longevity of the ecosystem, not just because someone may be watching us. Not to sound corny but i really try to do things that will help my sons generation have a robust, clean internet to work in and use.  If marketers use that filter of: 'is what i'm about to do going to make the web better or crappier?' then Google wouldn;t have to react so harshly to honest mistakes and/or ignorance. Unfortunately, corruption and deceit are profitable characteristics that are likely here to stay so I'm all for clearing out the trash by whatever means necessary.

    One more thing…Maybe theres something i dont know but really now…. how on (Google) Earth is the Spam Team gonna know how many courses my meal was?!  Are y'all watching me right now??

  13. I would really like to know how you go about gathering your information!!? How could you possibly know if I give someone a pizza, gift card, or anything?? It seems like that would be hard to find that information… unless someone is illegally monitoring our private correspondence.. 

  14. Common sense from Matt Cutts . Don't be stupid, underhanded, or dishonest when getting your links. That's fairly clear. What's not so clear is how Google delves into the private relationships and communications between two parties to discover the nature and compensation arrangements therein. Care to shed a bit of light on THAT for us???

  15. This closes on such a frustrating note.  Matt intimates that there is a difference between "here's a product because we want you to try it out" and "here's a product because we want you to write about it."  Isn't that a distinction without a difference?  I grew up in the bicycle business.  We imported shoes from Italy and a review in a magazine was important.  We sent the magazine a pair of shoes to "try them out" but obviously we wanted them to "write about them."  Isn't this a legitimate activity?  Why is it different online?  Answer: It's not!   I would agree if you were paying for a favorable review, but even if you're not, even if you're confident that your product will be greeted favorably and you're willing to take what comes, still…

    You obviously want them to "write about it."  Geez.  This is like deciphering the White House.

  16. So how does google differentiate between links that have been put there without the webmasters knowledge? We get idiots and scrapers linking to us all the time and have to spend ages "policing" our links. Google why the hell did you have to cause all these problems? Everyone used to love google, now I'm not so sure…..

  17. Matt Cutts shares how the Web Spam team evaluates whether a link is paid or not
    – What is the value of the gift, product, or service?
    – How close is the gift, product, or service to actual money?
    – Is it an outright gift or a loan?
    – Who is the intended audience?
    – Is the intent of the gift to get links?
    – Would the gift be a surprise to third party?

  18. I have to say Google is Jumping the gun when it comes to recognizing and eliminating paid links, People can just close a deal over the phone on an article for $ and Google will never know about it, turn a present into a donation or donation declared as "loan". And I find it hard to believe that legitimate businesses want to get Links from "Spammy" websites which mass produce "Buy links" emails. 

  19. Sorry, but does not really explain what a paid link is. How would google spam team know if a link on a site is created via a loan or gift. How would they know if money has changed hands? Really muddy waters here.

  20. It is good to have this explanation but when a deal is done between a site owner and a blogger/journalist etc and not disclosed how do Google know? They don't unless they hack the email accounts of the two individuals and put 2 and 2 together.
    When reading reviews of products/services or write ups on blogs it is usually pretty obvious – i.e. if the review is whiter than white with no criticisms at all then it comes across as potentially a paid review. But Google cannot understand this without human moderation from the web spam team and even then they would be making a guess, and it would probably not be fair to penalise based upon an educated guess.

  21. There must be a ton of mommy bloggers out there really squirming after seeing this. That's if they are paying attention at all. 
    Those sponsored post type sites should be quaking in their boots as well.

    Thanks for the explanation Matt Cutts 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top