Is it against Google's TOS to pay for one in-content guest post backlink on a website in your niche?

Anything that passes PageRank, as per Google (the page you quoted supports this) is against their rules.

That includes buying links, creating your own links (such as forum signature links, blog commenting links and a bunch of other links people on this forum taut as 'the best' off-page SEO activities) are all against Google's TOS. Because all mess up Google's master plan.

PBN's are not, in themselves, against the TOS. They become so only if they exist to manipulate/aka mess up with Google's master plan.

The TOS are interesting reading.... So, I'll quote the interesting part (Yes, it's practically the whole thing, but it is interesting to read it in relation to the advise given on this forum):

"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. This includes any behavior that manipulates links to your site or outgoing links from your site.
The following are examples of link schemes which can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results:

• Buying or selling links that pass PageRank. This includes exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links; exchanging goods or services for links; or sending someone a "free" product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link
• Excessive link exchanges ("Link to me and I'll link to you") or partner pages exclusively for the sake of cross-linking
• Large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns with keyword-rich anchor text links
• Using automated programs or services to create links to your site

Additionally, creating links that weren't editorially placed or vouched for by the site's owner on a page, otherwise known as unnatural links, can be considered a violation of our guidelines. Here are a few common examples of unnatural links that may violate our guidelines:

• Text advertisements that pass PageRank
• 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.
• Low-quality directory or bookmark site links
• Keyword-rich, hidden or low-quality links embedded in widgets that are distributed across various sites, for example:
  Visitors to this page: 1,472
  car insurance
• Widely distributed links in the footers or templates of various sites
• Forum comments with optimized links in the post or signature, for example:
  Thanks, that's great info!
  - Paul
  paul's pizza san diego pizza best pizza san diego

Note that PPC (pay-per-click) advertising links that don't pass PageRank to the buyer of the ad do not violate our guidelines. You can prevent PageRank from passing in several ways, such as:

• Adding a rel="nofollow" attribute to the <a> tag
• Redirecting the links to an intermediate page that is blocked from search engines with a robots.txt file

The best way to get other sites to create high-quality, relevant links to yours is to create unique, relevant content that can naturally gain popularity in the Internet community. Creating good content pays off: Links are usually editorial votes given by choice, and the more useful content you have, the greater the chances someone else will find that content valuable to their readers and link to it."


The question, for you as a marketer is not if something is against the TOS but whether you will benefit and how (long-term, short term) from your links.


A link in context on a page that has no backlinks of its own has darn little juice to pass, so, OP, if you buy such a link, make sure the site owner links to the page your link is coming from from a page on his/her site that's got a bunch of backlinks or puts your link on a page with backlinks. And do not tell Google you paid for the link.



And, of course, make sure they do not sell a lot of links... Google has figured out farm links before.


(No, I am not talking about you doing something unethical or illegal, ethics / law do not apply ... Unless you promised Google to abide by its TOS. Did you?)

The misquote was ON PURPOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To make a point of how people misquote stuff all the time.

But you misquote it. You forgot: THE LOVE OF money.....

Paul

Ah, but you did in your initial reply, one I got in email

so, I'm going to reply to that totally senseless post of your

Read OP again and try to grasp using whatever you have left in your head
that this is NOT about what G. allowed or not but about if it can find if
I paid for link or not.



fastreplies