Google’s only allowed links is a non-paid links. Even if you say that you are linking back to the advertiser’s site, it is still your responsibility as a site owner not to add a vote to that advertiser’s site. Otherwise, you’ll get penalized.
Just like what I advocated while still an in-house SEO, NOT putting a rel=”nofollow” to an advertised link will harm your site. At that time, I am a one man team and nowhere could I see references of what’s really Google’s stand on the paid link issue. Will they penalize a site for linking back to an advertiser? I discussed my views to the owner.
To be exact though, I originally recommended putting an exception to some sites that passed some of our internal criteria (but we will not tell the site owners) but good thing that my boss told me if we are to put rel=”nofollow”, we should do it for all or not use it at all.
Just look at the recent penalty by Google on JC Penny, et al.
Photo Credits: ivanpw
