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How are the big websites getting away with it ?

by MaxusMumbai
8 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I am talking about sites like Zillow and Trulia.
These sites provide free widgets to realtors to use on their individual sites. Ex: A mortgage calculator and the code of these widgets contains a back link which points to these big sites.

Is this a legit way of earning back-links ?
These widgets do provide some value to the realtors but the individual realtors do not have an option to include the link or not and Zillow's terms and policies prevent them from making changes to the code.

Isn't this a clear violation of Google,s policies ?
Earning a back link in exchange of a value added service,in this case a widget is understandable but not giving an option to include a link or not, is it OK as per the guidelines ?
Also Matt Cutts has previously stated that all widget links should be No-followed. Would big sites like Zillow want lots of Nofollow links pointing to their sites ?
#big #websites
  • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
    They're providing a service, and the realtors are free to not use their calculator. It's not like they're forcing anyone to do anything.

    However, I feel that it's on the grey area. Google might wake up one day and slap them, or they might not see any reason to do so.
    Signature
    Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
    Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

    What's your excuse?
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  • Profile picture of the author MattXL
    Hi Maxus,

    Some people would argue that any form of link building other than somebody deciding to link to you on their own is a violation of Google's webmaster guidelines. However, they seem to be fine with most techniques other than these:

    https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66356

    Best,
    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Their goal is not "link building".....it's that rare item called "doing business"

    The tools are incentives for realtors to put their listing on those realtor sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by MaxusMumbai View Post

    I am talking about sites like Zillow and Trulia.
    These sites provide free widgets to realtors to use on their individual sites. Ex: A mortgage calculator and the code of these widgets contains a back link which points to these big sites.

    Is this a legit way of earning back-links ?
    These widgets do provide some value to the realtors but the individual realtors do not have an option to include the link or not and Zillow's terms and policies prevent them from making changes to the code.

    Isn't this a clear violation of Google,s policies ?
    Earning a back link in exchange of a value added service,in this case a widget is understandable but not giving an option to include a link or not, is it OK as per the guidelines ?
    Also Matt Cutts has previously stated that all widget links should be No-followed. Would big sites like Zillow want lots of Nofollow links pointing to their sites ?
    Those are only a fraction of their backlink profile, that's why the links don't get their page slapped on the SERPs.
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  • Profile picture of the author irawr
    Banned
    Originally Posted by MaxusMumbai View Post

    I am talking about sites like Zillow and Trulia.
    These sites provide free widgets to realtors to use on their individual sites. Ex: A mortgage calculator and the code of these widgets contains a back link which points to these big sites.

    Is this a legit way of earning back-links ?
    These widgets do provide some value to the realtors but the individual realtors do not have an option to include the link or not and Zillow's terms and policies prevent them from making changes to the code.

    Isn't this a clear violation of Google,s policies ?
    Earning a back link in exchange of a value added service,in this case a widget is understandable but not giving an option to include a link or not, is it OK as per the guidelines ?
    Also Matt Cutts has previously stated that all widget links should be No-followed. Would big sites like Zillow want lots of Nofollow links pointing to their sites ?
    It's the same reason that WF doesn't get slapped for the 8,000 fiverr gigs people have purchased for it.

    Toss WF into ahrefs and look at the anchors if you don't believe me.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by irawr View Post

      It's the same reason that WF doesn't get slapped for the 8,000 fiverr gives people have purchased for it.
      There's a difference...

      Warrior Forum has a nofollow on the fiverr link blast links.

      Embedded online tools are usually followed links built by webmasters.
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      • Profile picture of the author irawr
        Banned
        Originally Posted by yukon View Post

        There's a difference...

        Warrior Forum has a nofollow on the fiverr link blast links.

        Embedded online tools are usually followed links built by webmasters.
        Sorry typo. I meant the fiverr link blasts people are pointing at WF.

        Google "clickfunnels review"

        It's astonishing how many links the classified ads section of this forum gets.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    It's astonishing how many links the classified ads section of this forum gets.
    ...and how trashy that section has become???
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    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
    January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
    So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
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