The Issue of Paid Links

In yesterday's post I talked about some of the reasons Google doesn't like paid links.  However, in some respects this is a bit of an oxymoron as Google's Adwords are paid links as are their text links in their ads.  Google owns Blogger which is now allowing their users to insert Amazon.com links and/or images into their blog posts quite easily right in the post editing window.  You have to be an Amazon.com associate meaning you do get paid so once again these are paid links.  So to my way of thinking Google has two issues against paid links:

1. They don't like paid links they don't get a cut from but they may tolerate the occasional paid post for a blog.  Paid post links add a multitude of duplicate content to Google's database yet Google gets nothing from it.  
2. Many paid links are nothing more than link spam.  The post is made solely for the purpose of the link but it adds no new content.  Worse than the paid post links some websites and blogs have resorted to blatant link spam where most of the content is paid links.  Like many others Google is taking a firm stand on spam of any kind so it is not surprising that there are indications that they may be setting up a link spam reporting system in the near future.

With that in mind paid links can be used effectively while not getting you into hot water with Google if you simply follow the rules.  Here's are a few things I think are important when using paid links:

1. Have a disclosure policy in place.  This basically tells your readers that there is advertising on your blog and that if they click the link you will receive a monetary compensation.  This is usually a TOS for any advertising system you use.
2. Have a privacy policy in place.  This tells your readers that as a result of the advertising on your blog a certain amount of their information is being collected.  In most cases the privacy policy is part of the disclosure policy.
3. Use additional paid links sparingly.  If you already have advertising on your page use addition paid links in your posts sparingly.  The main reason for this is your readers will feel that selling them something is your ownly interest.  What you really want to sell them is yourself not push consumer goods and services down their throats.  If using text ads or Amazon.com ads refrain from using more than one or two in a post otherwise it will be seen as link spam and don't use them in every post.  
4. Put information and content first!  My theory is that my readers are looking for information and content so advertising is second to that.  Advertising is a norm everywhere we go so I try to use how I feel about it when I'm using advertising on my blogs.  I don't like a lot of flashy, in your face advertising and while I'm rather partial to the neon lights of Las Vegas advertising, I think that style is sensory overkill for any blog.   Some of the adverising styles you won't find on my blog simply because I don't like them include: flashy click here banners, advertising after every post, advertising scattered in so many directions you can't find the content, adult content advertising, or any other advertising that I would find offensive myself.

Garden Gnome
©2009-2010