Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot.

JerryMarketing · 02-05-2012, 01:31 AM

Hi,

Recently i came across a website using some techniques to hide outbound links from Google crawlers.

You can visit the site - Mandy Heng - Mandy Heng Fashion Designer for Evening and Formal Wear

If you were to click on "links:" at the end of the page, it will show a long list of outbound urls. The keywords "links" itself is almost hidden using font colors that matches the background.

I took a look at the Google cache page of the website and the outbound links are not reflected on it.

Anyone care to shed light if this is considered blackhat?

One thing that i'm puzzled about is that "link juice" are passed from mandyheng.com, so why isn't google robot picking that up and reflecting in the cache page?

JerryMarketing · 02-05-2012, 09:47 AM

Anyone has experience with this?

ZumbaKassel · 02-05-2012, 10:15 AM

Never heard it, can you give me more indepth analysis? What is the idea about it?

JerryMarketing · 02-05-2012, 10:23 AM

Zumba, visit the link and you click on "links" at the bottom of the page. It will dropdown a long list of outbound links.

These links seem to be cloaked such that Google's crawlers are not able to crawl them. However, the links still passed "link juice".

Just find it odd that if it's passing link power, why isn't it indexed by Google.

MagnusOMX · 02-05-2012, 10:36 AM

I visited the page with Google bot as user agent and I was able to see the links. They are also in the cache.
I bet Google doesn't like this. Since the links are actually not cloaked the site won't get penalty for that, but trying to hide text or links like that is not something you should do if you want love from Google.

And yes, all links are "dofollow" so they feed the targets with this site's PR. Then again, it's just a PR1...

JerryMarketing · 02-05-2012, 11:45 AM

Hi Magnus,

It did not appear in the text only version - Mandy Heng - Mandy Heng Fashion Designer for Evening and Formal Wear

If you visit all the listed links, you will realized that almost all of them have "hidden" links like these, creating some sort of reciprocal back linking.

I'm just shocked that this is allowed since Google has been frowning on reciprocal and 3 ways links etc..

AnnaSEO · 02-05-2012, 12:06 PM

I am sure Google Might have identified such links.

JerryMarketing · 02-06-2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwillwin

I am sure Google Might have identified such links.

Certainly hope so and that Google do something about it. I noticed quite a few offline seo companies using this techniques.

02-05-2012, 01:31 AM	#1
JerryMarketing Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. Hi, Recently i came across a website using some techniques to hide outbound links from Google crawlers. You can visit the site - Mandy Heng - Mandy Heng Fashion Designer for Evening and Formal Wear If you were to click on "links:" at the end of the page, it will show a long list of outbound urls. The keywords "links" itself is almost hidden using font colors that matches the background. I took a look at the Google cache page of the website and the outbound links are not reflected on it. Anyone care to shed light if this is considered blackhat? One thing that i'm puzzled about is that "link juice" are passed from mandyheng.com, so why isn't google robot picking that up and reflecting in the cache page?
	The only internet marketing guide you will ever need! The money is in the list. Here's why!

02-05-2012, 09:47 AM	#2
JerryMarketing Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. Anyone has experience with this?
	The only internet marketing guide you will ever need! The money is in the list. Here's why!

02-05-2012, 10:15 AM	#3
ZumbaKassel Warrior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. Never heard it, can you give me more indepth analysis? What is the idea about it?
	Zumba-Kassel

02-05-2012, 10:23 AM	#4
JerryMarketing Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. Zumba, visit the link and you click on "links" at the bottom of the page. It will dropdown a long list of outbound links. These links seem to be cloaked such that Google's crawlers are not able to crawl them. However, the links still passed "link juice". Just find it odd that if it's passing link power, why isn't it indexed by Google.
	The only internet marketing guide you will ever need! The money is in the list. Here's why!

02-05-2012, 10:36 AM	#5
MagnusOMX Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 74 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 15 Posts Social Networking	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. I visited the page with Google bot as user agent and I was able to see the links. They are also in the cache. I bet Google doesn't like this. Since the links are actually not cloaked the site won't get penalty for that, but trying to hide text or links like that is not something you should do if you want love from Google. And yes, all links are "dofollow" so they feed the targets with this site's PR. Then again, it's just a PR1...

02-05-2012, 11:45 AM	#6
JerryMarketing Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 74 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. Hi Magnus, It did not appear in the text only version - Mandy Heng - Mandy Heng Fashion Designer for Evening and Formal Wear If you visit all the listed links, you will realized that almost all of them have "hidden" links like these, creating some sort of reciprocal back linking. I'm just shocked that this is allowed since Google has been frowning on reciprocal and 3 ways links etc..
	The only internet marketing guide you will ever need! The money is in the list. Here's why!

02-05-2012, 12:06 PM	#7
AnnaSEO Banned War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 282 Thanks: 42 Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Question about hiding outbound links from Google bot. I am sure Google Might have identified such links.