Why TLA (and others) has to follow Google
There are couple of reasons why TLA and its counterparts LinkWorth, ReviewMe, and P-P-P… etc should be considering “nofollow” tags.
Text-Link-Ads has been keeping mum regarding “nofollow” tag integration into its text links, while LinkWorth made it clear that it won’t be giving in to Google’s demands.
In its latest sweep Google also punished all the blogs who use P-P-P (and in some cases wrongly punishing those, who merely had mentioned P-P-P in their blog posts, but not actually used the program). This time, Google gave them PR0. What will be Google’s next move? Remove all the blogs from its index? Most probably…
Here are some of the reasons why TLA (and other text link selling programs) should consider using “nofollow” tags:
- Not all blogs are JohnChow dot com
- Bloggers are leaving the system
- Advertisers do not mind “nofollow” tags
There are very few blogs if any, which are independent of Google and do not need Google’s PageRank nor its search engine traffic. Most of the blogs in the blogosphere are dependent to Google, and do not want to be de-listed or banned from its index.
Everyday there are more and more blogs that are complying to Google’s requirements. That means TLA and others are loosing money every single day.
Not all advertisers are chasing PageRanks, some of them just want to get traffic - potential sales traffic. Therefore, they do not care if the link has “follow” or “nofollow” tags.
Personal experience. I made one of my sites Google compliant and removed the TLA script from the site. I also added “nofollow” tags to all the outgoing links. The result: two of my customers came back and advertised on my site directly! They didn’t mind the “nofollow” tags, they told me that the traffic they were getting from my site was more important than the PageRank or the “nofollow” tag for that matter.
Thus, TLA lost all the customers that were advertising on my site, but I could retain some of them. TLA 0 : Me 0.5 (not 1, because I lost some of the advertisers too).
Time to step in
Programs that sell text links (like TLA, LinkWorth etc) might say that they are merely filling in the gap between link buyers and sellers. But the reality is, they are playing (and can play) much bigger role than they think. Because the fact is, currently many bloggers (including me) are standing at the crossroads. They are waiting for a small jolt from Google’s side to make a decision. So far, Google’s actions (especially the last one - giving out PR0) has been very effective on majority of the blogs.
If the next move by Google will be the de-listing of the blogs from its search index. I am sure, over 80% of the blogs will rush to comply with Google’s demands. Then, for text link selling programs, that would mean, simply put - end of business!
It is obvious that the blogosphere is already shifting to Google’s side, slowly but surely. So it would only be natural if the programs like TLA and LinkWorth stepped in to facilitate this movement. The movement of legalizing the text link selling industry, based on Google’s terms. (Search Engine is Google’s, therefore Google has all the rights to dictate the terms.)
Because if they (TLA and others) step in, they will save lots of money. The money that is about to be destroyed by single action of Google. If they don’t step in, then bloggers will comply with Google’s demands anyway - forsaking the current earnings they are making from TLA and other programs. Just like the blogs that have already forgone their earnings, so that they can stay friends with Google.
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11 Responses
to “Why TLA (and others) has to follow Google”
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By ron on Nov 21, 2007
Hey there Ades. So I take it the whole google FUD has settled on your doorstep? nofollow is not a fix. The problem will still exist and continue to be a problem. They need to think outside the “Us against them” box and figure out how to fix their problem and make the other side happy too.
I have a possible solution that I would love to pitch to G00G. We’ll be in Vegas for pubcon in a couple of weeks and Captain Cutts will be there. He knows us and he’ll probably come up to our booth like he did in the past. I plan on trying to pull him aside to offer a solution that will make everyone a winner. I’m sure they’ll be hard headed about it, but at least I can say we tried. He’s like a rockstar so who knows if he’ll have time. Maybe we’ll hold him hostage for ransom, in the form of everyone getting their pr back. :-)
The nofollow might be an “option”, but it will be after we get feedback from them. We can continue to find ways to beat their checks, but we would rather have something that helps everyone.
By Yaro on Nov 21, 2007
I agree that it would be nice of TLA spoke about what they are doing, and I expect they will, once they decide on their plans.
I suggest they offer both - a nofollow option and a normal link option and let bloggers choose how they sell their inventory.
I for one would continue to use their service if I knew it would not be against Google’s guidelines.
By chipseo on Nov 21, 2007
I just posted an article about the new code the TLA implemented last week… it went farther down the road of going against the nofollow for Google where they specifically asked its users not to use the terms “paid links” and so on.
The information I received on this code update seemed odd to me since it was clearly going against what is acceptable over at Google.
It will be interesting to watch it that is for sure. Scott
By James @ Total Web Review on Nov 21, 2007
I am one of those that were struck down by the mighty Google. I am just wondering why not go after those that buy links instead of those that sell them? I have went back on one of my sites and added the no follow tags to all of the paid posts that are over 30 days. Once all posts have run their course on http://www.openroadbiker.net then I will no longer do paid posts on that site. I am still debating on whether to change up on http://www.totalwebreview.info because even if I do a low paying post then I should be able to make enough to pay for my domain registrations and hosting so it can be my fall back. That site gets very little traffic from google anyways and makes nothing off of adsense (or anything else except for PPP for that matter)
By Mani Karthik on Nov 21, 2007
Ades, I think you are bang on target. It;s high time they used nofollow tags but…having said that it’s not a good sign to see more and more blogs selling off because they got a backlash from google. Talk about monopoly.
By Court on Nov 21, 2007
I personally would start using Text-Link-Ads if they had a nofollow option. I am very surprised that someone hasn’t come up with an option for it yet. TLA, Linkworth, and PPP broker PageRank, period.
To Ron: I’m disappointed to hear you say ‘We can continue to find ways to beat their checks’. You can until you can’t and then people get hurt. Make a nofollow program and I guarantee I’ll sign up with you and will bring a few hundred people with me.
To James: Google can’t go after the sites that buy links because that would mean that I could buy links, point them at your site, and get you banned/penalized.
By ron on Nov 21, 2007
@Court - implementing a nofollow option is simple. I would definitely be interested to know how many advertisers would be open to the option.
By McGrath Dot Ca on Nov 22, 2007
Advertiser:
I look at the potential traffic and sales before buying any links to promote my site.
Publisher:
My paid Blog Directory category and advertisement on 1 Cool File has the nofollow now. I lowered my price to take that into account. I don’t want to loose my PR6 or be de-index even if it cost me some sales. I see it has a marketplace for bloggers first.
Paid reviews:
I bought paid reviews way back for the feedback on my freeware software. I still think paid review has a place and up to the blogger to use nofollow or not. But the blogger may pay the price if they do. If the advertiser just want a PR, a link would be better.
By InvestorBlogger on Nov 22, 2007
Partly right, PPP is going to implement no_follow soon, they’ve already announced it, I think. Disclosure is also going to be MANDATORY on every post that they have in their system.
Dunno about TLA and linkworth. Seems they’re burying their heads in the sand.
I’m not so worried, because life goes on…!
By Ades on Nov 24, 2007
Ron, please let us know the outcome of your meeting with Matt Cutts.
Everybody thanks for all your comments.