The notion that paid links cheapens the web is the craziest idea I’ve ever heard because it runs counter to every other type of marketing that exists. The market will correct itself with paid links where the users do not receive value. They’ll stop following the links or visiting the sites that have them. Case closed.

The notion that paid links cheapens the web is the craziest idea I’ve ever heard because it runs counter to every other type of marketing that exists. The market will correct itself with paid links where the users do not receive value. They’ll stop following the links or visiting the sites that have them. Case closed.

@Roger – Yes the trust thing is a delicate balancing act

@Ann – I am sure TLA will pay better than you are getting from Adsense

@Matt – Yeah I guess most of us have a mix of opinions depending on how they are implemented

@Kristen – Ambiguous is fine

@Michael – What do you think about Mat Mullenwegs tirade against sponsored themes?

@Scott – Yeah, stick it to the man

@Jordan – That’s the thing though, they are not talking about their index, they are talking about OUR sites. They have every right to decide what happens in their index, their site, such as dropping or devaluing me, but me linking to you is not happening in their index, it happens between our sites so I don’t see why they should call the shots

@Adam – It is funny, a lot of the SEO people I know don’t buy links but tend toward #2

@doug – If you focus on people and not Google you will get far more traffic and links, and paradoxically find in fact Google treats you better

@Jeremy – Because so many people are addicted to Googles traffic they play by their tune, understandable I guess

@Steven – Heh, Al Gore will never escape that accusation will he

@Reztar – Supposedly!

@Mohsin – The way I look at it, look at John Chow. He got penalised by Google and his traffic went up

@BlogOxide – Careful is good

@SageRave – Good call

@Brad – As many people have said, perhaps they want the only advertising to be sold through them

@Roger – Yes the trust thing is a delicate balancing act

@Ann – I am sure TLA will pay better than you are getting from Adsense

@Matt – Yeah I guess most of us have a mix of opinions depending on how they are implemented

@Kristen – Ambiguous is fine

@Michael – What do you think about Mat Mullenwegs tirade against sponsored themes?

@Scott – Yeah, stick it to the man

@Jordan – That’s the thing though, they are not talking about their index, they are talking about OUR sites. They have every right to decide what happens in their index, their site, such as dropping or devaluing me, but me linking to you is not happening in their index, it happens between our sites so I don’t see why they should call the shots

@Adam – It is funny, a lot of the SEO people I know don’t buy links but tend toward #2

@doug – If you focus on people and not Google you will get far more traffic and links, and paradoxically find in fact Google treats you better

@Jeremy – Because so many people are addicted to Googles traffic they play by their tune, understandable I guess

@Steven – Heh, Al Gore will never escape that accusation will he

@Reztar – Supposedly!

@Mohsin – The way I look at it, look at John Chow. He got penalised by Google and his traffic went up

@BlogOxide – Careful is good

@SageRave – Good call

@Brad – As many people have said, perhaps they want the only advertising to be sold through them

Furthermore, if I attract outside advertisers who want to pay for some content-related links on my blog, I don’t see what business it is of Google’s.

Furthermore, if I attract outside advertisers who want to pay for some content-related links on my blog, I don’t see what business it is of Google’s.

But my vote goes for the third option.

But my vote goes for the third option.