What Do You Think About Paid Links?

Paid links and PR drops were a hot topic at Pubcon Las Vegas last week. We talked to Matt Cutts about it in a reaction we see from our readers. Some are vehemently opposed to what they consider Google strong arm tactics and then there are those of you who think Google is performing a service to the internet community by cracking down on paid links.

What Do You Think About Paid Links?

As such, I wanted to post some of the more interesting comments we've received to the issue so far and basically ask for some more feedback from Murdok readers on the subject.

Are paid links a necessary evil? Are they necessary at all? Is Google taking a proper stance when they say 'NO', or should they maybe try to find some middle ground? Keep in mind, Google has created the 'link economy' with it's algorithmic emphasis on links=quality... so is Google really serving the 'greater good' or just looking out for number one here?

» Bill Inman

Google decided to become a dictator a long time ago. Trying to control every aspect of our web sites, where we now spend more time worrying about what Google is going to do with our web site, than we do trying to design a site that will best serve the needs of our potential customers.

Google created the whole issue of "links" which has resulted in all the silly link pages everyone created, and now thew paid links.

My advice to Google is to get out of the role, and the opinion, that the world should revolve around them, and controling everything about our web sites.

Google is a good idea gone mad!

» Submitted by SEO book Uk

There us a way to get even with google just pull adsense from your sites if 1 Million website pulled adsense for just a day google would notice a drop in revenue and will think twice before make webmaster angry again

» Submitted by » Submitted by Nicole on Tue, 12/11/2007 - 14:53.

As a small business web-site owner, AND as an in-house SEO writer for a large company, I frankly am happy that Google is downgrading paid-link sites that pass on link juice. When wearing my small biz hat, I can't afford to buy paid links and it gives bigger companies an advantage I can't yet afford. I think Google is indeed living up to their 'do no evil' company motto by doing this.
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