Is Google Farmer now frowning on links to Authority Sites?

Something sounds very, very odd here.

First, that Google would "reach out" to a single commercial website about specific links at all. Second, that a non-affiliate, in-context link would create a problem without something else going on.

If I had to venture a guess, Overstock probably bought text links in the past and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Now they're tryig to cover their butts by eliminating as many text links as they can, paid or not.

Another factor could be their recent O.co launch. They may be trying to reduce the number of backlinks to the old url in favor of the new branding. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but sometimes companies do strange things for their own reasons.

I'd just remove the Overstock link as requested and find another source you can refer your readers to - one which will appreciate the freebie.

By the way, I don't think this is a problem for YOU. ... Seems like Overstock's problem, not yours.

The idea that you make the web a better place by linking to authority sites still holds and will probably always hold. Google will never be able to get away from that reality.

Wow. Think about this for a second. Are you really going to be Google's puppet to the extent that you'd reduce the user experience on your own site just to please Google?

What IS Google but a big batch of non-affiliate links to site they deem worthy? What is Google's own stated goal -- to give their own users the best, most relevant results when they conduct searches. How utterly hypocritical would it be of them to penalize any other site that follows that same philosophy?

A lot of the comments are a bit off track here.

To the op, yes you're reading into it wrong.

Overstock.com was one of the websites, along with JC Penny, that was recently flamed for using paid, or at least spammy-looking, links to intentionally manipulate the SERPs. The media made quite a big fuss about it all, because they're such big companies and it was so blatant.

Because it's a big and well known site, Google did reach out "personally" and manually lower the sites rankings.

So, basically what Overstock is doing now is going out and removing as many of these spammy links, in order to hopefully get back in Google's good books. It just so happens that the link on your site to overstock.com probably looks like a paid link, or simply one that doesn't look like it occurred naturally, even though it technically did.

They're just trying to clean up their backlink profile. Will it make a difference them by removing the link on your site? No, and you don't have to. But that's why they're asking you to do so.

So to answer your question, no, Google is not now frowning on links to authority websites. If it helped in the past, then it likely will now.

Thanks for the comments ..

I think the comments about Overstock having issues may be the real cause of the original email, to clean up their site and not mine.

I just wasn't sure if something had changed with adding outbound bare links to authority sites for good SEO. Just to confirm .. these are still ok and beneficial, correct? or should I be adding nofollow tags on all these?

I just found it odd they’d write I was doing something wrong simply by suggesting their site to my visitors. They really just needed to ask, or ask somewhat nicely and I would have done this np.

But, Now I am sorta mad they went about it this way.
I guess Overstock doesn't want people to suggest their site?

Now Overstock can pay you to remove your link.

And maybe pay you some more so you don't add a few more links

They are violating, not you.

LOL this is a funny one!!

I seriously doubt that ranking to a topical authority site with a bare link will decrease you position in the SERPs.

I would leave it there if it adds value to your visitors.

It's overstocks problem, not yours!

I think people have pretty much got it figured out. Else how, pray tell, are the interwebs supposed to work if you are now not supposed to link to authority sites?! How do they become authority then? Google can't read minds yet, they can't figure out your intentions, though I am sure they are working on it

This is typical bureaucratic bullsh!t you get when you work in the online marketing dept. of large companies. (I know from experience)

Overstock is trying to clean up the mess they've made. It's so messed up, they don't know which links they paid for and which they didn't.

Ask her if they're going to pay you some $$$ to remove the links. Or tell them you're going to link more if they don't pay you some $$$. You can call it blackmail or freedom of speech, either way you have the power.

so wait, dofollow affiliate links would be ok though?! Just change it to an aff link

I think it's bad form them getting caught out and then trying to scare webmasters with talk of "violations".

so wait, dofollow affiliate links would be ok though?! Just change it to an aff link

I think it's bad form them getting caught out and then trying to scare webmasters with talk of "violations".

Google may be following up with major ranking retailers after the JCPenney backlink fiasco to insure that their top listings don't have any spam related links. You may have just been caught up in this, or maybe your site has been flagged as a bad neighborhood site? I'd contact Google and ask.

I don't think big G is "frowning" at links to authority websites, Overstock.com has been penalized by Big G for buying links to their website and they are tryng to clear up their inbound links as much as possible.

So go ahead, link to authority websites, it's all good. lol

Definitely not in a hurry to remove them ..

Guess when "Big G" shines a light .. the roaches scurry ..
I'll just be happy I'm the bug with a Big S on his chest holding his ground