Sell Links, Drop PageRank

Filed in: Google, SEO Beginner — November 2nd, 2007

Over the past week, many webmasters and bloggers got hit by Google by decrease their websites’ PageRank. Many top blogs got slapped as well, such as Engadget.com, tuaw.com, Problogger.net, and CopyBlogger.com (the later two got their PageRank back).

Matt Cutts (head of Google’s Webspam team) confirmed that the PageRank update was a penalization against links selling that pass PageRank.

Malaysian blogs are not spared

A few of Malaysia top blogs got their PageRank decreased as well, such as 5xmom(PR5 to PR3), Sabahan(PR5 to PR3), and HongKiat(PR4 to PR2). [list stolen from BytesWired]

Remember, the two PR7 blogs in Malaysia? Zeo still maintains PR7 but his donation page dropped from PR6 to PR5. Ades, on the other hand, is not as lucky. His site lost the precious PR7 and become PR5.

Oh, my LiewCF Tech Blog also lost PR6. It dropped to PR4 from PR5, then climbed up to PR6, now PR5 again.

How to rescue your PageRank?

If you are an innocent victim of PageRank update who don’t sell links, you can “request reconsideration” on Google Webmaster Tools. Google may return your PageRank if your site follows Google’s quality guidelines.

Bye-bye Paid Links, or no?

Earlier this year, I blogged that Google dislikes paid links. We have been warned. Then, I did seriously consider to remove paid links on this blog but I didn’t do so in the end.

This time, I will remove all paid links on this blog. As a result, I need to make a refund to the clients and losing hundreds bucks(USD) of extra income. There goes my dedicated server monthly hosting fee~ Well, if I still want to be in the game, I would better follows the game rules.

However, there are bloggers like Ades and 5xmom who decided to keep paid links and paid posts. They are confident that their sites can live without the Google PageRank.

Do you keep or dump paid links?

Related book: The SEO Book

google, pagerank, search engine, seo

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http://blog.miragestudio7.com/ Calvin

well, depends again. blogs like kennysia.com don’t need traffic from Google, whereas blogs like our depends heavily on google traffic, my blog’s PR went from PR 4 to PR5. Yes, there is an increase of traffic, around 30% extra. good news for me
http://blog.miragestudio7.com Calvin

well, depends again. blogs like kennysia.com don’t need traffic from Google, whereas blogs like our depends heavily on google traffic, my blog’s PR went from PR 4 to PR5. Yes, there is an increase of traffic, around 30% extra. good news for me
LcF

@Calvin: Yes, that’s why I say “if I still want to be in the game, I would better follows the game rules.” the “game” means Google. If your site has great loyal readers, of course you can ignore about search engine rankings. Oh, congrats on your PR5.
LcF

@Calvin: Yes, that’s why I say “if I still want to be in the game, I would better follows the game rules.” the “game” means Google. If your site has great loyal readers, of course you can ignore about search engine rankings. Oh, congrats on your PR5.
http://www.myorganicincome.com/ Samm

Liew, you really seh-tak ah. A few hundred bucks, woi…. I have to write like hell to earn that, lol.
http://www.myorganicincome.com/ Samm

Liew, you really seh-tak ah. A few hundred bucks, woi…. I have to write like hell to earn that, lol.
http://pujutengineered.com/ PujutEngineered

I lost one spot of my PageRank as well. Bummer indeed.
http://pujutengineered.com/ PujutEngineered

I lost one spot of my PageRank as well. Bummer indeed.
http://www.goldfries.com/ goldfries

Some went down, others went up. Mine went up 3 page ranks.

Well Liew, at least your PR is higher than John Chow.
http://www.goldfries.com goldfries

Some went down, others went up. Mine went up 3 page ranks.

Well Liew, at least your PR is higher than John Chow.
http://twit88.com/blog thoughtworks

PR update is important for problogger. I don’t make a living by blogging, so basically whether it is PR0 or PRX makes no different.
http://twit88.com/blog thoughtworks

PR update is important for problogger. I don’t make a living by blogging, so basically whether it is PR0 or PRX makes no different.
http://www.byteswired.com/ BytesWired

It really depends how much you rely on your PR to get visitors and if your main source of income is from Adsense.

I agree with Calvin that if you have large followers, you don’t need Google for traffic. People just come in directly for your post.

Then again, PR is also like an ego for bloggers. Don’t you agree?

Btw, I also did a post on this matter on my blog.
http://www.byteswired.com BytesWired

It really depends how much you rely on your PR to get visitors and if your main source of income is from Adsense.

I agree with Calvin that if you have large followers, you don’t need Google for traffic. People just come in directly for your post.

Then again, PR is also like an ego for bloggers. Don’t you agree?

Btw, I also did a post on this matter on my blog.
http://www.flycopy.com/ Abdul Rahman

I think I’ve heard someone said that doing this is nothing more than just gaming their own system. I think it’s true because even though you are selling paid links, that doesn’t make you a money-hungry person who’ll do anything – including bad things just for the sake of hundred bucks.

and is it about PR or TR (TrustRank) that matters most?

I’ve seen a site with PR3, rank better than the PR5 site.

Just my 1 cent thought.

Abdul Rahman
http://www.flycopy.com/ Abdul Rahman

I think I’ve heard someone said that doing this is nothing more than just gaming their own system. I think it’s true because even though you are selling paid links, that doesn’t make you a money-hungry person who’ll do anything – including bad things just for the sake of hundred bucks.

and is it about PR or TR (TrustRank) that matters most?

I’ve seen a site with PR3, rank better than the PR5 site.

Just my 1 cent thought.

Abdul Rahman
http://www.flycopy.com/ Abdul Rahman

SEO Book blogged about this before: http://www.seobook.com/archives/000661.shtml

You could well Google about “TrustRank” as well.

- Sorry for double commentating
http://www.flycopy.com/ Abdul Rahman

SEO Book blogged about this before: http://www.seobook.com/archives/000661.shtml

You could well Google about “TrustRank” as well.

- Sorry for double commentating
http://www.friedbeef.com/ Friedbeef

Live without Google PR…. I’m going from 5 to 3… Paid links give me too much cash to take out.
http://www.friedbeef.com Friedbeef

Live without Google PR…. I’m going from 5 to 3… Paid links give me too much cash to take out.
http://www.sheeptech.com/ vincentchow

Mine drop from PR5 to PR3 as well.
http://www.vincentchow.net Vincent Chow

Mine drop from PR5 to PR3 as well.
http://www.myddnetwork.com/ Omar Yesid Mariño

I think, there is an underground paid links market raising right now… and also additional creative ways to place paid links will be found. I would take out my paid links if they are very obvious.
http://www.myddnetwork.com Omar Yesid Mariño

I think, there is an underground paid links market raising right now… and also additional creative ways to place paid links will be found. I would take out my paid links if they are very obvious.
http://www.andrewooi.com/ Andrew Ooi

Lots of new sites have gained PRs. I see lots of new PR2 and PR3 from my friends new in blogging. I myself have 2 new PR4 blogs.
http://www.andrewooi.com Andrew Ooi

Lots of new sites have gained PRs. I see lots of new PR2 and PR3 from my friends new in blogging. I myself have 2 new PR4 blogs.
http://www.phantomclf.net/ CLF

I seems to have my PR increased from 3 to 5!! What on earth Google is doing….

Btw, can anyone point me out what’s the importance of keeping high PR? I see you all like freak out when PR drop…. Sorry if I sound pathetic, I’m still learning.
http://www.phantomclf.net CLF

I seems to have my PR increased from 3 to 5!! What on earth Google is doing….

Btw, can anyone point me out what’s the importance of keeping high PR? I see you all like freak out when PR drop…. Sorry if I sound pathetic, I’m still learning.
http://www.post-buzz.com/ weirdoux

liew, zeo just got back his PR7. yours also will get PR6 back coz I just had a chat with Google just now. I asked them to increase back your PR5/10 to PR6/10. don’t worry…..

tadaaa………!
http://www.post-buzz.com weirdoux

liew, zeo just got back his PR7. yours also will get PR6 back coz I just had a chat with Google just now. I asked them to increase back your PR5/10 to PR6/10. don’t worry…..

tadaaa………!
http://michaelwoo.net/ Michael Woo

I still keep them anyway.. my other blogs got hundreds of sponsored posts.. i don’t know how to get rid of all of them
http://michaelwoo.net Michael Woo

I still keep them anyway.. my other blogs got hundreds of sponsored posts.. i don’t know how to get rid of all of them
http://AhTim.com/ Tim

I’ve got my first PR2 from NA. Maybe bcoz I didnt sell any text links.

–blog for dream–
http://AhTim.com Tim

I’ve got my first PR2 from NA. Maybe bcoz I didnt sell any text links.

–blog for dream–
http://malaysia-kini.com/blog MYBlog

My blog got PR2 now from 0
http://malaysia-kini.com/blog MYBlog

My blog got PR2 now from 0
http://www.icalvyn.com/ iCalvyn

my self from PR1 to PR3, i think is great, but after see alot of blog from 0 to 3… it make no much different to me…

1 thing weired, i have a URL very less traffic, can said no some time, and i did not build back link, just few… but now from PR0 to PR2… seen like google simply give PR…
http://www.icalvyn.com iCalvyn

my self from PR1 to PR3, i think is great, but after see alot of blog from 0 to 3… it make no much different to me…

1 thing weired, i have a URL very less traffic, can said no some time, and i did not build back link, just few… but now from PR0 to PR2… seen like google simply give PR…
http://digitalproductscenter.com/ Ainuddin

BytesWired is right.

Many of my sites are PR0 but getting traffic (+5,000) from various sources since already established for many years.
http://digitalproductscenter.com Ainuddin

BytesWired is right.

Many of my sites are PR0 but getting traffic (+5,000) from various sources since already established for many years.
http://EdwardKhoo.com/ Edward Khoo

Well, if I were you then I will keep the text links because your blog has a lot of loyal readers & I am sure advertisers will buy links from you based on how much traffic you get insted of PR
http://EdwardKhoo.com Edward Khoo

Well, if I were you then I will keep the text links because your blog has a lot of loyal readers & I am sure advertisers will buy links from you based on how much traffic you get insted of PR
LcF

@BytesWired: although I have regular readers but the main traffic is still from search engines.

@Abdul Rahman: how well a site ranked is depends on the important of the page (PR) and the relevant of content. Therefore, a site with relevant content might get higher rank than high PR sites in search engine results.

@CLF: low PR means Google think your site is Less Important, thus your site might get lower rank in search engine results.

@weirdoux: Zeo never lost his PR7. Talked to Google?! you are kidding, right?

@iCalvyn: PageRank has nothing to do with “traffic”. It is about links.

@Edward Khoo: paid link buyers want PR score, not traffic. Text link does not bring much traffic, anyway.
LcF

@BytesWired: although I have regular readers but the main traffic is still from search engines.

@Abdul Rahman: how well a site ranked is depends on the important of the page (PR) and the relevant of content. Therefore, a site with relevant content might get higher rank than high PR sites in search engine results.

@CLF: low PR means Google think your site is Less Important, thus your site might get lower rank in search engine results.

@weirdoux: Zeo never lost his PR7. Talked to Google?! you are kidding, right?

@iCalvyn: PageRank has nothing to do with “traffic”. It is about links.

@Edward Khoo: paid link buyers want PR score, not traffic. Text link does not bring much traffic, anyway.
http://techpati.com/ Mahesh Chawla

It seems google is adopting forceful loyality programme. Those who are going out or looking for new ways of revenue are being penalised. So now there are going to be hard options, either to worry about the PR or to continue with text link ads resulting in cash. Some who are earning well with the text link ads will not bother about it much.
http://techpati.com Mahesh Chawla

It seems google is adopting forceful loyality programme. Those who are going out or looking for new ways of revenue are being penalised. So now there are going to be hard options, either to worry about the PR or to continue with text link ads resulting in cash. Some who are earning well with the text link ads will not bother about it much.
http://moneyclicking.net/ Kidino

Just adding to the list. When you sell text links, more PR means more money. Maybe Google don’t want you to take advantage of that.

Mine too … dropped from PR4 to PR3

But I don’t care much for PR.
http://moneyclicking.net Kidino

Just adding to the list. When you sell text links, more PR means more money. Maybe Google don’t want you to take advantage of that.

Mine too … dropped from PR4 to PR3

But I don’t care much for PR.
http://www.post-buzz.com/ weirdoux

liew… you’ve got me…! wakakaka…
http://www.post-buzz.com weirdoux

liew… you’ve got me…! wakakaka…