Text-Link-Ads Banned by Google
Posted on October 1, 2007
Filed Under Text Link Advertising, Google
Yes, I know this is old news. However what is a bit strange is that everyone in the SEO community knows about it but very few have written about what happened and why. The question that lingers is why was Text-Link-Ads banned (or perhaps penalized)? Why was one of the original text link brokerages banned by Google while others were untouched? At SES, there were two theories floating around:
- Too Bold -They were getting too bold about selling links. They advertise all over, appear and speak at nearly all web ad related trade shows, and seem to come up with new text link products to stay ahead of the Google algorithm - you can only poke at the giant so much before he wakes up and squashes you.
- Over Optimization - Their affiliate program gave them too many similar anchor text links. A quick search of their backlinks at the time of the banning showed hundreds of affiliates using only a handful of different anchors. Perhaps the Google algorithm saw this as over optimization and dumped them for those keywords. Lately, it seems Text Link Ads is having their affiliates move to a tinyurl to redirect their affiliate links and perhaps remove an over optimization penalty.
As for the affiliate program over Optimization Theory. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Google loves links - any links. Not to beat a dead horse, but the site that took their spot for their company name (admittedly a keyword stuffed company name) is propped up by massive amounts of links on thousands of machine generated pages and .RU domains. If backlinks were the problem, how the heck is this new site with garbage backlinks ranking so well? Also, the switch to tinyurl does not yet seem to be helping Text Link Ads.
I have my own personal theory. Text Link Ads, Inc was the first link broker to go corporate when the joined forces with Media Whiz. Maybe Google can live with the independent link brokers to buying and selling links, but with the resources Media Whiz brings to the table, Text-Link-Ads will be able to come up with all kinds of new products that will give Matt Cutts night sweats. Google’s algo can’t spot blatant paid links at the moment, how would they stop the more stealth varieties that surely Text Link Ads will develop with their new found recourses?
Just like SEOinc.com eventually popped out of Google’s prison yard Hot Box, I think the same will eventually happen with Text Link Ads. They will need to take their slap on the wrist as a message that big brother is watching and move forward with more caution.
Well this is only my theory right or wrong. I’d like to hear theories as to why Text Link Ads was singled out from all the other link sellers - it’s time to discuss what went wrong.
<-Jazz
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Comments
6 Responses to “Text-Link-Ads Banned by Google”
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Maybe it was a personal thing. Somebody at the big G might have had it in for TLA …
I’ll tell you why no one is talking about it except in “whispers”; it’s because most “elites” in this industry… those who attend the conferences, etc are buddy-buds with the text link ad people… that’s why. This industry is very “politically correct” for the most part. I’m not, but many are. That’s why the topic is NEVER discussed though.
Also; it’s a matter of time until the other link sellers get it as well. If you are an owner thinking about buying links from these brokers, think about it a little more first.
Do you think there is a danger of getting worthless links when you buy from large link broker networks because Google pretty much knows who their publishers are from indexing their backlinks and scanning their inventory?
Is it more dangerous buying from TLA now that they are now banned by Google then other non-banned brokers? Chop off the head and the body will die type thing.
I believe it’s always been dangerous buying from link brokers, penalized or not. Banned or not. As long as these paid links are bought and sold because of se’s, (and they are), anyone buying or selling is at risk…moreso as we move forward. Yeah, I know, people also buy and sell for the “traffic”, but that’s just a nice excuse to use instead of the real reasons people do what they do. The excuse that Google sells links is always used as well. It doesn’t hold any water, but people still use it as an excuse. Many in the SEO industry are really a bunch of hypocrites and morons if you want to know the truth.
Doug, I understand you dislike for aggressive SEOs and paid links.
The fact is paid links work extremely well - both for traffic or organic rankings. Also, Garbage links are working better than ever in Google and good SEOs will take advantage of the opportunity. Also, hot and working extremely well - PR9 links. I get emails everyday from SEOs willing to pay extremely high prices to get a link on a PR9.
Perhaps your anger comes from frustration of your “old school” methods not working for your clients.
Let’s get back on track and try to answer the original question. Why did TLA get banned while other link brokers remain untouched?
I have NO idea about the why no other’s have been “touched”. …. at least YET. Yet is that important word.
[edit offtopic <-Jazz]