It was well reported that Google Pagerank of top sites is dropping across the web as the latest Google Pagerank update progresses. However, more clarity has started emerging on the issue…
Paid Text Links Unleash Google PageRank Penalties
1. Matt Cutts (top Google engineer) emailed Search Engine Journal to confirm that the partial Google Toolbar PageRank update which happened last week was a result of Google’s campaign against paid linking and advertisement links which influence PageRank. Problogger Darren Rowse managed to get his PR6 back and confirms from two sources at Google that this latest round of updates was ALL about the selling of text links.
2. Andy Beard is comparing the previous 3 pagerank updates and reporting that some blogs have started regaining pagerank, while more fresh cases of dropping pagerank are reported. Our Pagerank also dropped from PR6 to PR3 and is still at the same level. I hope they fix the issue as we do not buy or sell text links.
3. This will definitely stress the business model of paid text link services. Some reports of payment issues with Text Link Ads are coming in. I am sure lots of webmasters would have removed paid text links by now to preserve whatever pagerank they got.
4. DoshDosh says Google Pagerank does not matter and advises you to “stop getting so worked up over something so inconsequential.” John Chow, who often rides against the Google tide says that link sellers will come up with a new pricing system that won’t include PageRank.
Are you still selling paid text links on your blog? Google is watching…