Re: Can inbound links really hurt you?
AVC... It's not really a matter of how "we" choose to define paid. It's really more of a matter of how the links are going to be percieved and treated.
For example... Some paid reviews, such as the Yahoo directory are just fine, while many others are not. If someone compensates me for my time to do a thorough review/evaluation of their site I cannot post or blog about it without preventing ANY links from being followed unless I wish to risk a problem with Google. The links are not paid, my review and consultation would be. This is okay for Yahoo but not others? If it's okay for some what's the criteria and is it applied equitably?
What if you decide to link editorially to a site of your own accord, they find the link and in return start linking back to you? Now what? It's all a matter of perception. Is it a reciprocal link? A 3 way link scheme? A paid link?
It's rather easy to come up with a definition of "paid". It's basically impossible to come up with a definition that takes into account perception and any other factors that can influence that perception.
Dave
|