Why Do Paid Links Violate Google’s Guidelines While Other Ads Don’t?

Paid Links vs Paid Advertising In Google SEO

We’ve talked a lot about how Google disapproves of paid (sponsored) dofollow links and the need for any link that is sponsored (paid, bonused or incentivised) to be marked as nofollow.

So it’s not at all surprising for bloggers to ask the really heartfelt question of why we are allowed to sell ad spaces but not to sell link spaces.

The difference actually comes down to the whole nofollow vs dofollow links thing again… but I’ll let Matt explain.

“Google gives penalties to sites who do paid links, but doesn’t penalize site with other ads such as AdSense, Chitika, etc. Why? They both are source on income to a site, a site needs money to grow or sustain.”

So just in case Matt wasn’t clear enough… let me go over again the thing he was hinting at….

Every single link on your site that has in any way been sponsored, promoted, paid for, or you’ve received a review copy for… must be flagged with a no-follow flag.

Advertisers are WELCOME to buy no-follow links (advertising links) from you (yes, even text links) but when advertisers pay for a link it is a “dofollow” link they are wanting.

Because all advertising links are marked as no-follow, they are “Google-friendly” whereas any link that is not marked with a no-follow but was paid for is disrupting to the attempts of Google to provide a great search result.

It’s really simple: If you post a link on your blog that you have received any variety of compensation for (or that you are required to promote as part of your involvement with something you are compensated for), then simply mark the link as nofollow.

Want to sell ads on your blog? That’s cool too, just be sure they are nofollow. Additionally, you need to be sure they are not disruptive to the overall user experience and not overused, but that probably makes sense!

Happy Blogging!

PS: Want to learn more about what you need to do to keep Google’s zoo of Penguins and Panda’s happy with your site? Click here.