Are Paid Links Subverting Search Quality?

Search engines, especially Google, say don't do 'em. But some search marketers say paid links work. Are paid links subverting search quality? Or are they simply a fact of life, here to stay? Moderator: Chris Boggs, Manager, Search Engine Optimization, eMergent Marketing/BRULANT, Inc.

Speakers: William Leake, Founder and CEO, Apogee Search, Eric Ward, CEO, EricWard.com, Brian Boland, Director-adCenter, Microsoft Corporation.

It's William Leake who's first up to speak about this contentious issue, he says that it has really flared during the last 72 hours and has been up for many months now. He emphasizes the need to be honest with clients about using linking strategies, including the paid links, and the fact that they are a risky proposition. But the question arises about the efficacy of the paid links. Well the fact is that they do as Google's attempts against paid links haven't been too successful.

Brian from Microsoft takes up to the dais and and straight away quips that Microsoft sees the paid links as a technical problem and that "it is not throwing in the towel on like some other engines." He says that MS is on the way to solve this technical problem, and says that not it takes a normal search takes about 11 minutes to get good results, so the paid links problem has a solution in algorithm, which is solvable. He goes on to discuss that it's easy it is for search engines to dissemble the linking universe.

MS wants nothing less than a "100% protect user experiences." as far as the ethics are concerned the statements are a fascination and it's quality that's important to MS, and its important because the users don't waste time to switch over to another engine if they are frustrated with one.

PHOTO CREDITS: toprankonlinemarketing, Andy Beal's Photos