Advertisements and Press Releases are Now Weighed in the Same Scale

by Jenifer Renjini - 7/31/2013 10018 Views

Use “NoFollow” to Links with optimized Anchor Texts in Articles, "Press Releases" or any Promotional Contents, says Google

Usage of Nofollow on Links used in Press Releases It’s seems odd but still, may be this is the right time to think about alternate ways to promote your business. Even many genuine businesses online are now getting affected by Google’s frequent changes to its guidelines and algorithms. Sad that Google is now relating Paid Links and Advertisements to Press Releases and Articles.

Very Recently on July 18, Google updated its Link schemes on Google Content Guidelines. These changes in guidelines denote that Google is more conscious now on its link schemes and it would be even more harder in the future. As per Link Schemes guidelines,

“Any links intended to manipulate PageRank or a site's ranking in Google search results may be considered part of a link scheme and a violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.”

In the new documentation update Google has removed and added some example of its link schemes which negatively impact a site's ranking in search results. The changes denote that Links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases distributed on other sites should use “Nofollow”

The new changes included are,

Example of Link Schemes that negatively impact sites Ranking

Large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns with keyword-rich anchor text links

Examples of unnatural links that violate Google Guidelines

Advertorials or native advertising where payment is received for articles that include links that pass PageRank
Links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases distributed on other sites. For example:

There are many wedding rings on the market. If you want to have a wedding, you will have to pick the best ring. You will also need to buy flowers and a wedding dress.

On a Video Hangout by Search Engine Lands Author Barry Schwartz to John Mueller, Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst regarding the new link schemes documentation change, Mueller says,

“It would be somewhat okay to have direct URLs linked within press releases that are followed, but still nofollowing even those links are recommended”. He added, “Stories written editorially are the links that Google values the most, where the news should be out to the world by the Press on their own sites”

Diversification of Backlinks and Anchor Texts are given more importance after the algorithm updates and now webmasters and SEO’s carefully build quality websites both On-Page and Off- Page. By this time, Google’s frequent changes in guidelines are pretty challenging, in releasing new rules of urging the usage of "nofollow" on links into articles and Press Releases, which inturn kills businesses that do not relay on Advertisement promotions. Ads costs more and so small businesses online would die if Google sarts counting on promotional contents that failed to use "no follow" in the links. Relating Press Releases and Articles to something which is obtained through payment doesn’t make sense. Citation is the one that still exist but now question arises on "When Citation would be added up in Link Schemes?". Hope Google will come up soon with detailed answers for all webmasters questions.

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Category :

SEO News

Tags :

Press Releases, Nofollow to press releases , Press releases vs advertisements, Google link schemes

About Jenifer Renjini

Here at SubmitInMe, I write articles focusing on SEO trends and latest SEO updates, providing you the right information on the right time. My Life and Career both lie on the same graph, So Far So .... more info about the author