Does anyone have proof of G banning 'bad neighborhoods' ?

[LinkMaster]

As we all know, there are more rumors and unfounded speculations flying around most SEO forums than you can keep up with. I've heard just about all of them. What I haven't heard or read is any proof to back them up. Therefore, I wanted to start a thread to see if I can put together a list of real issues that will get a site removed from or penalized by Google.

It would be great to see some examples of sites that were actually banned or penalized by Google for the following offenses, but if you don't have any - please go ahead and post anything that you feel is a truthful story about this happening to a website.

Here goes:

1. Does Google ban or penalize websites that link to "link farms"? (See #2)

2. What is a "link farm"? My understanding of a link farm is a website that has nothing but links on every page with little or no valid content. However, that definition could apply to an online directory also. So, my real question is - does Google ban or penalize websites for linking to "link farms", and if so, what constitutes a "link farm" in this instance? (Please, no opinions or speculations - just facts if you have any.)

3. Does Google ban or penalize websites for invisible, hidden, or cloaked text?

4. Does Google ban or penalize websites that are full of doorway pages - and is this even a valid concern anymore?

5. Does Google ban or penalize sites that are full of Java-scripted redirects?

6. Does Google ban or penalize websites for cloaking (server side scripting that detects the search engine spiders and delivers totally different content for their algo than what is on their website)?

The reason I am asking all of these questions is because I have a link exchange program, and I want to make sure that I do not link to any "bad neighborhoods". However, I don't want to just start dropping link exhchanges with websites based on SEO rumors or speculation. I want to make sure that if I drop a link partner, it's really for a valid reason.

Thanks in advance for any information or stories that you may have!

[cbp]

I have seen lots of eg's of all those banned by Google for all of the above - I just don't have any eg's to hand to post :-(

I have also seen more eg's where Google has not detected and banned sites.

CBP

[LinkMaster]

Thanks CBP.

It's funny how there are so many rumors and speculations flying around the SEO forums, yet when you ask for proof to support them, no one seems to have any. It makes me wonder what I should really believe about the supposed bans and penalties by Google that everyone is so quick to warn about. Maybe it's just all just speculation?

[milonic]

Hi,

The only time I heard of anyone getting banned was a couple of years back. I'm sure there are more but this is the only one documented. Can't remember exactly who or what but it was big news at the time.

From past experience I personally think you need to be doing something REALLY REALLY bad to get blacklisted. I also think it might be worse if you are actually successful in beating the search engines, they just don't seem to like it. I've seen competitors do some very naughty things and they just seem to constantly get away with it.

I suppose what could happen is that the search engines tend to leave the sites alone so that they can devise and test ways of ensuring that the tactics being used are effectively restricted. Could be wrong on all this but it's just my observation over the years.

If anybody does have any docs on this, I too would like to have a peek.

Cheers,
Andy

[AndrewX]

I got a link trade request a while back from a webmaster who was participating in the links2you system, a definite attempt to manipulate link popularity.

Anyway, I'd heard that G had gone after this system, and I advised the webmaster to eschew this system for that reason. They replied that that might explain why they had lost their PR after participating (or was it rankings? sorry, don't remember which).

I feel fairly confident that Google will take drastic actions against black hat stuff when and if they detect it from the anedotal evidence I've seen.

[janeth]

Traffic Power

[PPHBusinessChecks]

Traffic Power

I think this will explain janeth's post a little...

I ran across this quite a while back and it took me a while to find it again but here is "proof" (in someone's opinion anyway) I'm not personally familiar with this firm so I don't want to spread any rumors. Believe what you want...

[janeth]

Thanks Kenneth,

My bad, I should have explained more.

[bhartzer]

LinkstoYou is a classic link farm, they were one of the first "link farms" to get banned.

In fact, linkstoyou.com is still banned in Google.

[dejaone]

google bans duplicate content sites too