WebProNews

Tag: Link Networks

  • Google Takes Action On Link Network In Poland

    For the past year or so, Google has been on a warpath when it comes to link networks, particularly in Europe. That is still going on, it would seem.

    Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable reports that webmasters and SEOs noticed a spike in complaints around manual actions in “the Polish regions,” and that one got confirmation from Google Polish Webmaster representative Karolina Kruszyńska. This reportedly said:

    Yes, we have taken action against one of the systems to exchange links.

    She later tweeted:

    Matt Cutts has often been the one to talk about this stuff, but he’s not with Google for the time being. Clearly, his absence has done little to stop Google from going after European link networks.

    Poland was specifically mentioned by Google as an area of action back in July. Other areas Google has targeted include France, Germany, and other areas of Europe.

    Image via Google

  • Google Goes After More Link Networks

    Google Goes After More Link Networks

    Google continues to penalize link networks in Europe, hitting two more over the weekend.

    Google has been on a warpath for the last year or so, penalizing link networks designed to game search results. Google now now hit one in Spain and one in Germany.

    Typically, Google’s Matt Cutts would make mention of the networks on Twitter, but he’s currently on leave from work, and probably has better things to do. Johannes Mehlem tweeted about it in his absence:

    As others have pointed out, Germany is obviously part of Europe, so that would be two European networks. According to RustyBrick, Google sent a bunch of manual penalty emails in Spain.

    Last month, Google said it took action on networks in Poland, which the company said it was focusing on all the way back in February. Since then, it went after various other networks in Europe as well as Japan.

    Image via Google

  • Google Continues Link Network Attack

    Google Continues Link Network Attack

    It would appear that Google’s attack on European link networks is not over (if it ever will be).

    Google has been penalizing link networks on the Internet with a vengeance over the past year or so, with much of the focus on Europe. The company says it has now penalized two more from Poland.

    This week, Google posted about reconsideration requests on its Poland blog, and then Googler Karolina Kruszyńska told Rusty Brick they took action on two networks in Poland:

    She didn’t name the networks (at least publicly). Google’s Matt Cutts also tweeted about it:

    I wonder who those people are.

    Back in February, Google said it was focusing on networks in Poland. Since then, it was gone after various other networks in Europe, and also in Japan.

    Image via YouTube

  • Google Hits Japanese Link Networks

    Google Hits Japanese Link Networks

    Google’s head of webspam tweeted early Tuesday morning that Google has taken action on seven Japanese link networks over the past few months.

    He’s proud of the team:

    This revelation follows other announcements made by Cutts in recent months, which have seen Google on the warpath with link networks, mostly in Europe. Last month, Cutts mentioned taking action on a couple of German networks.

    Back in January, Google took action on French network Buzzea, which was followed by action against networks in Germany, Poland, and then warned Spanish and Italian networks.

    In addition to all of this, of course, has been Google’s attack on guest blogging, with notable guest blog network MyBlogGuest getting famously penalized. .

    Image via YouTube

  • Google Expands Link Network Crackdown Across Europe

    Google has been cracking down on link networks like never before in recent months. That continues with a couple more announcements from head of webspam Matt Cutts.

    In January, Cutts said Google was taking action on French link network Buzzea. He also noted that Germany was on the list of places Google was looking at. Then, in February, Google put out its German blog post warning about paid links.

    Later in February, Cutts told told Twitter followers that Google was not done with Germany, and also that it had just taken action on two Polish link networks.

    On Monday, Cutts tweeted about the latest areas of focus:

    Cutts has not always been shy about calling out specific link networks, though this time (and others) he did not name names. At least not yet.

    Image via YouTube

  • Google Moves Link Network Focus To Poland

    Google continues to wipe out link networks across the Internet, apparently on a country-by-country basis.

    Earlier this month, Google’s Matt Cutts told Twitter followers about Google cracking down on German link networks. That is still happening, but focus is also moving over to Poland. Here’s the latest on the situation from Cutts:

    That links to Google’s Poland blog, where the company offers a similar post on unnatural links to the one it put on its German Webmaster blog earlier this month.

    While Google has called out specific link networks by name on numerous occasions, there are no specifics this time.

    Image via YouTube

  • Cutts Says Google Has Taken Action On Another Link Network

    Google has been warning that it would be cracking down on link networks in Germany for a couple weeks or so. First, when Matt Cutts said Google was taking action on French link network Buzzea, he noted that Germany was next on the list of places the search engine would be looking at.

    Then, earlier this week, Google put out a blog post about paid links on its German Webmaster Central blog, and Cutts once again tweeted a reminder.

    Now, Cutts has confirmed that Google has already taken action on one of these German networks, and has more in its sights.

    Google has not really been shy about calling out link networks by name thus far, so it’s kind of interesting that he didn’t name any names this time. That doesn’t mean he won’t. It sounds like some more of them will be getting similar treatment in the immediate future.

    Here’s an old video Cutts impersonating a dinosaur:

  • Google Goes After Link Networks In Germany

    Google is turning its focus on cracking down on link networks to Germany. Matt Cutts hinted at this last week when he announced that the company was taking action on French link network Buzzea, and noted in another Tweet that Germany was also on the list of places Google’s looking at.

    Google has now put out a blog post about paid links (in German), which Cutts tweeted a link to:

    So don’t be surprised to see Cutts tweeting about specific link networks out of Germany in the near future.

    Google has always advised against paid links that pass PageRank, but in recent months, the company has put a seemingly increased focus on the issue. Last summer, they put out a new series of videos to further extend the anti-unnatural link message.

    There have been a handful of publicized cases of networks penalized recently. In addition to Buzzea, we’ve seen BackLinks.com, Anglo Rank, Rap Genius and even Expedia penalized for linking practices since December.

    Image via Google

  • Google Announces Action On Another ‘Link Network’

    Google has steadily been taking out link networks that violate its quality guidelines whenever possible, and Matt Cutts announced on Twitter that they’ve taken care of yet another one. This time it’s the French network Buzzea.

    Interestingly, Buzzea’s home page now displays this:

    Buzzea

    Buzzea put out a press release addressing the situation. Obviously it’s in French, but here’s a snippet from the Google Translated version:

    Indeed, Buzzea is an advertising network that sells items before providing any relevant content to users and facilitating navigation through the links they contain, which is characteristic of any item online. It is important to understand that advertisers are not only trying to work through their SEO Buzzea. They wanted above all to improve their image and credibility by taking advantage of the reputation of bloggers recognized in their respective fields and their editorial quality, in the image of traditional sponsorship.

    Buzzea The team would like to highlight the fact that we are not the main victim of this decision which will impact on a case by case thousands of publishers removing their perhaps their main source of income, which we deeply regret . It is a sacred step back for a dynamic and passionate blogosphere approached professionalization.

    If you are one of the publishers Buzzea is talking about, it’s probably not a good day for your own rankings.

    In the ongoing link network battle, Cutts indicated on Twitter that Germany will soon be an area of focus.

    Image via Buzzea

  • Google Goes After Yet Another Link Network

    Earlier this month, Google revealed that it would be cracking down on more link networks, following a larger trend that has been taking place throughout the year.

    Google’s Matt Cutts hinted on Twitter that Google was taking action on the network Anglo Rank.

    He went on to note that they’d be “rolling up a few.”

    On Friday, Cutts tweeted similarly:

    This was apparently in reference to another network, BackLinks.com.

    No surprises really, but Google is making it quite clear that it’s going to continue to penalize these types of sites.

    Hat tip to Search Engine Land.

    Image: BackLinks.com

  • Google Takes Action On More Link Networks

    Google Takes Action On More Link Networks

    Google has been cracking down on link networks, penalizing the networks and the sites that take advantage of them to artificially inflate their link profiles, all year.

    Google’s Matt Cutts hinted on Twitter that the search engine has taken action on yet another one – Anglo Rank:

    While engaging with the Search Engine Land crew on Twitter, he noted they’ve been “rolling up a few”.

    A giant ad for AngloRank can be seen at BlackHatWorld (h/t: Search Engine Land). It promises “high PR English links from the most exclusive and unique private networks on the web.”

    Back in May, Cutts announced that Google would continue to tackle link networks, and that in fact, they had just taken action on “several thousand linksellers”.

    More recently, Google took out the link network GhostRank 2.0.

    The moral of the story is: stay away from these networks, because Google will figure it out, and make you pay. But you already knew that.

    Image via BlackHatWorld

  • Google Reportedly Kills Link Network Ghost Rank 2.0

    Google has reportedly penalized link network Ghost Rank 2.0, and sites with links from it. If you were using it, you probably should have expected this to happen sooner or later.

    Cutts appeared to have hinted at this last month, when he tweeted:

    Now, forum watcher Barry Schwartz writes, “I am pretty confident, 99% confident, based on the data I see in the forums and some sources I have that want to remain anonymous, that Ghost Rank 2.0 was hit hard by Google. It seems that at least one of the underground and under the radar networks was severely hurt by Google and many of the sites using them to rank well in Google are now penalized.”

    Google shutting down link networks with the sole purpose of gaming Google rankings is nothing new. Google’s web spam team is constantly working to combat this type of thing. It should come as no surprise when they take such action. This is not a sustainable way to build links for SEO value.

    Here’s a closer look at Ghost Rank 2.0:

    The Ghost Rank site does its best to convince you that it is above Google penalties:

    Ghost Rank 2.0

    Ghost Rank 2.0’s site claims to sell high PR links. Here’s the pricing scale:

    Ghost Rank

    “We have signed up to 35 different Russian exchange networks,” the site explains. “Put all these domains available into one pool and ran them through our custom made algo and filters to find the strongest, most beneficial links. We don’t just look at PR. It’s a lot more complex than that.”

    On how safe you would be using this system, it says, “Well, let’s just put it this way. It’s about as diversified as you are going to get. We aren’t relying on one network for links. One gets hit and you still have 30+ other networks to keep you going strong.”

    You’re taking your site’s destiny into your own hands when you use this approach. Who do you believe more: a link network that promises to get you higher rankings or Google, who vows to penalize link networks that promise to get you higher rankings?

    Image: GhostRank.net

  • Google Just Took Out Thousands Of Linksellers

    Earlier this week, Google’s Matt Cutts ran down a bunch of new stuff Google’s web spam team is working on. Cutts tweeted an extension of that today, noting that Google will continue to tackle link networks, and that in fact, they just took action on “several thousand linksellers” today.

    Let the good times roll.

    Webmasters continue to anxiously await an upcoming, bigger version of the Penguin update, and Cutts also indicated that Panda would be easing up a bit.

    As part of Cutts’ big video, he said Google would continue to be vigilant when it comes to all types of link spam. Already, the webspam team is making good on its word.