Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

| This News Blog is dedicated to bringing news, information and innovations targeting the Search Engine Optimisation industry.

Paid links now an SEO taboo

The practice of buying and selling links has been a contentious issue in the SEO industry for several years, but current thinking in the SEO blogosphere is suggesting that time is finally up for the paid link.
 
The emergence of Google as the dominant search engine, which had a greater emphasis towards links, spawned a proliferation of link farms designed with the sole purpose of pushing websites up the search rankings.
 
But times have moved on. Google frowns upon the practice and its PageRank algorithm has become increasingly more sophisticated in its ability to identify shared and paid links, penalising the offending websites in its rankings.
 
Many well-respected SEO consultants have nevertheless regarded the practice as a legitimate SEO tactic, knowing that using paid links in moderation wasn't going to raise any red flags at Google.

That said recent posts from an assortment of SEO bloggers are pointing to a change in the prevailing attitude towards paid links.
 
Many are becoming increasingly wary of them and advising others to steer well clear. They argue that the practice is now simply becoming too risky and advocate a safer and more long-term approach to SEO.

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