Buying/Selling links, Legal?

[vertos]

Is it legal to buy and sell backlinks.

If not do search engines frown upon it and penalize websites that do sell one way links?

In my area of the market one site has dominated for years since before I was even in the game, now some newcomer comes along buys a load of one way links from link selling sites and secures first place on google and other top search engines with a huge keyword.

This is not a fluke, this person has also made new sites and has top ranks with those too on different and simaler keywords. The sites are nothing special they lack content and other major factors which is "supposed" to give your site the edge with search engine position.

 

[dominator]

Legal? Sure.

 

[dcristo]

Why is advertising frowned upon by google? Ah that's right, its money you could be spending with adwords!

 

[Fatbat]

This is not a fluke, this person has also made new sites and has top ranks with those too on different and simaler keywords. The sites are nothing special they lack content and other major factors which is "supposed" to give your site the edge with search engine position.

Sounds like good SEO to me. Nothing illegal about buying links. Getting your sites to the top rank for various keywords isn't difficult if the competition is minimal or just plain shite at building websites.

 

[stock_post]

Google says it is not leagal.
They want you to buy AdWords and use AdSense on your site.

They want to f*ck both ends and constantly.

if you make a dollar they get 90% and you get to keep 10%

 

[Ehsan]

No its not illegal and I agree google is getting a pain in the neck , they want to tell you whats legal or not in there own way , they want you to use there products rather than trade amongst other webmasters ! Its becoming a monpoly and i am scared that to keep our rank in google will we have to follow google's silly and stupid rules ?

 

[adityas]

Google ranks your site based on 2 factors. Content and Back Links.

Just like google wants you to have original content, it also wants you to EARN your back links by providing something interesting on your site.

According to Google, when someone links to your site, the person is actually VOTING for you. Votes can't be bought......so to keep the system fair for everyone, else like the OP has mentioned, some newbie with deep pockets is going to take away the main spot from a really informative and good site. (Vintage plays a role in ranking, I wonder how the #1 site for an important keyword got kicked off so easily)

Moving on, links should not be bought or sold, as deep pockets does not give you the right to rank first, a good site with actual information gives you the right to do so. Ranks should be earned by providing something interesting/impressive to your visitors or other related site owners.


DCristo: While buying and selling links to enhance your SERP is illegal....Advertising is NOT illegal according to the Google TOS, all they want to you to do is add a 'nofollow' to these bought and sold links.

A 'nofollow' doesn't affect your websites ranking and is not considered as a vote for the 'linked to' site as well...


Hope this helps clear a few things.....


Regards,
Aditya

 

[DNP]

Great post adityas!

 

[ezimedia]

google sells adwords on search results... is that not paid links.

?????????????

 

[stock_post]

Yes, you buy adwords from them, you sell adSense on your site for them.
They get your both ends..