Google Webmaster Rules - What Does It Mean? 3

[1DMF]

The new Google rules state the following...

However, some webmasters engage in link exchange schemes and build partner pages exclusively for the sake of cross-linking, disregarding the quality of the links, the sources, and the long-term impact it will have on their sites. This is in violation of Google's webmaster guidelines and can negatively impact your site's ranking in search results. Examples of link schemes can include:

Links intended to manipulate PageRank
Links to web spammers or bad neighborhoods on the web
Link exchange and reciprocal links schemes ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")
Buying or selling links

So I cannot offer a reciprical link to anyone and I can no longer purchase banner advertising or should not pay for ANY directory lisitings as this is penalised by Google.

Is this right?

No more Yahoo paid inclusion, no banner advertisiing of any kind, no purchasing any link directory inclusion what so ever, including places such as Yellow Pages, BT, Thompson Local, ITV Local, Scoot, Excite, Ask, MSN, etc.. etc...




"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[BabyJeffy]

I would read that as saying:

If you participate in "Link Schemes" (where you provide a blanket statement along the lines of "link to me, I'll link to you") without any consideration of the content that you are linking to, then your site page rank may be negatively imapcted.

They seem to be targetting web masters that just link to any old site purely for the rank (and no thought about relevancy and content).

Same thing with buying or selling links - if you are buying links (not clicks - links) or selling them, then you may end up damaging your rank as you link (are linked to) from unknown/unrelevant sites.

At the end of the day, if you aren't attempting to game the system, then you'll be okay.

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Blog [!]@[/!] CodeRambler

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[/tt]

Make sure your web page and css validates properly against the doctype you have chosen - before you attempt to debug a problem!

FAQ216-6094

 

[1DMF]

hmm, but who decides and how?

I'm just concerned as it is concidered part of SEO to do a link building exercise.

But isn't this to gain SERPs or how can G decide what is purely to boost PR as against boost product / company awareness?

How do you know what directories to submit to and what, if any, you should pay to be included in.

Is directory submission now considered 'black hat' SEO , and where do I get a list of Google 'accepted' directories?

I wouldn't want to inadvertantly get a link from the wrong place, also I thought it was only the place you link 'TO' that hurt you otherwise you could damage your competitors puting links to their websites in 'bad neighbourhoods'.

For some with big budgets they could pay to include competitors in 'bad' directories, if G is now going to penalise 'paid links'.

It's all a bit confusing and rather an ambigous statement.


"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[BabyJeffy]

How do you know what directories to submit to and what, if any, you should pay to be included in.

This is not a problem... as long as you are in a directory that is relevant to your web site and would bring appropriate traffic (as opposed to just being listed in any/all such directories where rlelvance is approaching zero).

Is directory submission now considered 'black hat' SEO , and where do I get a list of Google 'accepted' directories?

No. It's not considered Black Hat. You can join any directory you like. It won't harm your page rank if it is relevant to your web site.

I shouldn't stress about this too much... it's not worth the hassle. Link to relevant quality sites, and get them to link to link back if your site is relevant to them. Easy to remember that (and nicely ambiguous in reference to "relevant" - so you can interpret it how you like).

I could well be completely wrong

Cheers,
Jeff

[tt]Jeff's Blog [!]@[/!] CodeRambler

http://www.coderambler.com/

http://www.coedit.co.uk/

[/tt]

Make sure your web page and css validates properly against the doctype you have chosen - before you attempt to debug a problem!

FAQ216-6094

 

[1DMF]

Well I see any directory that has a section for 'Financial Services' relevant, wouldn't you? seing as we do mortgages, insurance and loans.

And 99.9% of directories I've seen have a section for every possible type of website anyhow, so I guess there is no chance of G being able to claim it isn't relevant!

Obviously I wouldn't get my site in say at travel site (unless we did travel insurance, which we don't) - but again how would G know what insurance we do, if we did pet insurance and got a link from a load of vets websites and pet directories, at first glance as we call are selves 'independent MORTGAGE network' , it wouldn't seem relevant , until you dig a little deeper.

And hey, even vets and pet owners need a roof over their heads, so hmm, I guess there is no way G could penalise me for being on 99% of directories or other sites.

Well i draw the line @ Vigra! , but hey even chemists / pharmacist need mortgages and insurance ;-)

"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[Foamcow]

Obviously I wouldn't get my site in say at travel site

But some people would and that's the point.


Plus for the record it's Google Webmaster Guidelines and not "Rules". They are guidelines - so use them as such, ad d a sprinkling of common sense and you'll be fine.

<honk>*:O)</honk>

Tyres: Mine's a pint of the black stuff.
Mike: You can't drink a pint of Bovril.

 

[1DMF]

thanks guys

"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[ChrisHirst]

just absolutely forget the silly blather from link sellers about "relevancy" and "themed links" WRT search engines.

It's just a blind so they can squeeze more money out of confused numpties.

relevancy where people are concerned is a broad weapon and if you consider it limiting factor for linking you are doing your pages and your visitors a disservice.

Well take mortgages for instance.

How can you think pages that are only relevant to mortgages when just about every single site on the Internet will have a percentage of visitors every day who may be considering buying a property, remortgaging, changing lenders to get a better deal etc etc?

It's NOT the page content you should be considering but the visitors to that page and are THEY going to be relevant to your needs and is what you offer relevant to their needs?

Link in and out like you have never heard of search engines and you are advertising for potential customers instead.


Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[1DMF]

Thanks Chris,

So you are saying screw the G! WMT Guidlines, Nearly everyone in the UK between 18 and 80 is a potential customer for my product range and so link till the cows come home?

Cheers
1DMF

"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[ChrisHirst]

maybe not quite that far


but you certainly shouldn't limit yourself to the idea that only estate agents and the like are suitable for getting links from.
"related" pages should send better qualified visitors, but anywhere that people visit when considering spend largish sums of money on their property are a good target market.

So you have Roofers, Joiners, Builders, Plumbers & CH installers, maybe even Double Glazing fitters, Landscapers & Gardeners and many many more
With some thought and forgetting about search engines and the half-assed drivel about "Google likes related links", "The world is your Lobster" as they say.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[1DMF]

"The world is your Lobster"

hmm I thought it was Oyster, but fair play I don't like shell fish anyway!

I'm busy beavering away creating an affiliate link system with tracking and stuff, so then I am armed with a reason people might link to my site.

They make money from any business we make from their visitor referrals.

IMO i've done what I can to improve the look of the site and have made better landing pages, though some i'm still waiting for compliance to check and make alterations.

I've webmastered as much as I can in terms of valid code, sitemap, keywords, title tags , etc...

So hopefully it's just the link building which is the missing piece to the puzzle, and with a reward scheme, gaining those valuable links and visitor referrals should become much easier.

As always input much appreciated.


"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!

 

[ChrisHirst]

I'm old enough to remember Minder

No 9 on

http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/tv_characters/nominations.html

As well as the heavy use of leading British actors in guest roles, other trademark features of the series were Arthur's constant, ambitious and sometimes questionable use of obscure Cockney rhyming slang and other mis-quoted sayings (one of his most well known being "The world is your lobster"), the derelict sites used as locations, and the episode titles, which contained references to well-known phrases and names (e.g. "Gunfight at the O.K. Launderette", "Monday Night Fever", "National Pelmet", "The Beer Hunter", "Days of Fines and Closures", "The Wrong Goodbye" and "Guess Who's Coming to Pinner" to name but a few).

From

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minder_(TV_series)

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Woo Hoo! the cobblers kids get new shoes.
People Counting Systems

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[1DMF]

You old git ;-)

I remember it too, though not all the catch phrases!


"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!