Matt Releases His PowerPoint On Paid Links

peter_d · 09-03-2007, 11:01 PM

Matt Cutts powerpoint on the "Paid Links Are Evil" session.

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ses-sa...2007-write-up/

It would be nice to have a transcript, as seeing the slides out of context doesn't give the full picture. I can understand where Google are coming from on paid links, but those slides do sound kinda "brutal".

Here's the direct link: http://www.mattcutts.com/files/paid-...esentation.ppt

**T0d** · 09-03-2007, 11:09 PM

People need to realize google is not internet law

qbert_seo · 09-07-2007, 01:08 PM

They might not be the law, but they are the main playing field. Tough to play any sport without a field. Just as I am a guest on this forum and at the mercy of its owners and moderators, website listings are in part at the mercy of Google.

That said Google has incentive to make certain it provides visitors with relevant information, filtering paid links is one of their attempts to do so. My view is that is impossible to detect all forms of paid links as there can be under the table transactions. However sites that link to payperpost, well that is something easy for a Google algorithm to identify and therefor discredit the value of outbound links from such a site.

coolguy27 · 09-08-2007, 12:08 PM

Yes, they are not the internet law but Google is the main character if it is compared to Movies...

They play the main role all over the internet...

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter_d

Matt Cutts powerpoint on the "Paid Links Are Evil" session.

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ses-sa...2007-write-up/

It would be nice to have a transcript, as seeing the slides out of context doesn't give the full picture. I can understand where Google are coming from on paid links, but those slides do sound kinda "brutal".

Here's the direct link: http://www.mattcutts.com/files/paid-...esentation.ppt

Thanks for the link I've already downloaded it just for today...

Natural Elements · 09-08-2007, 12:35 PM

I found funny to go after paid links and not link farms, hidden links, doorways pages etc... It would be smarter to first take care of these craps before going after clean but paid directories.

It seems like Google give a priority on how their algo can find the paid directories (money/competition on their adwords system) than crap on their search engine.

Basically, they don't care too much of irrelevant results or deceptive search returns, they just try to take off the directories out of business, that's all they want.

zagu060807 · 09-08-2007, 01:10 PM

Paid links are not evil if your links does not pass PR

gobeyond · 09-09-2007, 11:02 AM

I think the Yahoo Directory's links carry a lot of weight in the eye of Google. A large portion of those links are paid. Not sure where Google draws the line. Many directory sites that charge a fee to list a site. Many blogging sites charge a fee to list some ad links. Not sure how Google is going to change the play field.

EricBlackwell · 09-09-2007, 01:24 PM

I can understand where G! is coming from and I can understand where those who point out the irregularities are coming from both are correct:

Is it reasonable IMO to not want paid links to influence your SERPS? Well, reasonable or no it's their site and our job is to optimize for their rules (deeds not words, mind you...).

Is it reasonable for folks to say "Be consistent". Sure. Don't call something evil and then let it go whilst calling something else evil and reinstating capital punishment over.

That having been said, it's obvious that this issue is on the surface and gonna stay, looks like.

Eric

adalmi · 09-09-2007, 01:55 PM

A directory is like yellow pages. A number of websites grouped by categories.
What's wrong in this? what's wrong in having a site listed in a directory?

Also what is wrong if i buy a link as advertising on a website to receive more traffic? What's the deal if the website passes PR? I don't need PR. Anyone serious knows that PR is nothing?

So, what's this big deal?