When does a group of interlinked websites begin to be considered a PBN by search engines?

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I am trying to understand the criteria by which search engines will identify a group of interlinked websites as a PBN. I could not find much information about this on the internet, and I was hoping that some of you guys could help me.

First of all, at what number size will a group of interlinked websites fall under the suspicion of being a PBN?

Secondly, does it matter if each website is an actual legit website, with at least some useful content on it? Do the anti-PBN rules apply only to totally sham websites (link-only pages)?

Any criteria / insights on how to avoid being penalized by search engines are most welcome.

Thanks for the help.
#begin #considered #engines #group #interlinked #pbn #search #websites
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    When they:
    • clearly exist for the sole purpose of dropping links
    • provide no value on their own
    • contain multiple links to the same website
    • all contain an identical or nearly identical outbound link profile
    • contain links using ridiculous anchor text that nobody would ever use in real life


    Stuff like that is a pretty dead giveaway on a network.
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  • Profile picture of the author expmrb
    When they look like non-real sites. Content has no value and they have irrelevant and/or 'gibberish' anchor texts whose main purpose is to create an outbound link.
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  • Profile picture of the author KylieSweet
    Interlinked websites that has different content post but still related could be considered as legit PBN in which really benefits the target audience.
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  • Profile picture of the author Herb Nazhe
    So, if I own a group of interlinked websites and each of them has legit and useful content, this will be enough to avoid being penalized by search engines?
    By the way, all these websites will be about the same topic, tackling various aspects of it in a meaningful way. Also, the domain names will be appropriately chosen.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by Herb Nazhe View Post

      So, if I own a group of interlinked websites and each of them has legit and useful content, this will be enough to avoid being penalized by search engines?
      By the way, all these websites will be about the same topic, tackling various aspects of it in a meaningful way. Also, the domain names will be appropriately chosen.
      I would not necessarily interlink them all.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by Herb Nazhe View Post

      So, if I own a group of interlinked websites and each of them has legit and useful content, this will be enough to avoid being penalized by search engines?
      By the way, all these websites will be about the same topic, tackling various aspects of it in a meaningful way. Also, the domain names will be appropriately chosen.
      Go to amazon.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see dozens of the hundreds of sites that amazon owns to sell things and funnel customers. They also own and run alexa.

      Oh and boxofficemojo.com to sell movies. boxofficemojo is one of the top movie sites.

      Amazon gives no rat's @$$ about interlinking. They do it like madmen.

      And each and every site is dedicated to funneling traffic to buy stuff.

      Bow, do you think google penalizes amazon because they just keep buying and creating websites for the sole purpose of funneling traffic to buy shtuff? And interlinking them all?

      I always choose to follow what the big boys do.

      Every big site/brand/company does the same thing.

      I mean seriously. If you own a dozen brand of hotels....wouldn't want to interlink them?

      The best links that are the easiest to get, are on your own sites. You can too create an online empire.

      Just like the big dogs.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author dynamyt100
    Google do as they please. I often find contradictions in their T's and C's and anomalies in their algorithms. If I were you I would just stay away from obvious SPAM activities. If your site/s are legitimate and offer customer value then you have nothing to worry about
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  • Profile picture of the author Herb Nazhe
    Very good answers. Thanks to everyone for your contributions.
    I like this forum!
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