It's Cold Outside Backlinks

LeeDJC · Mar 11, 2008

Hi All

I've just signed up with a Company called It's Cold Outside. They're providing backlinks to my website.

However, I'm concerned with the quality of the links - I think I'm right in saying that Google will drop my position if it thinks the sites are spam type sites?

I couldn't find any backlinks in Google, but found them in Yahoo. A couple of links here:

tvsrusonline.com/Articles/78870.html

bestdocumentmgmt-techoptions.com/Articles/90072.html

What are peoples thoughts on these?? The last thing I want to do is to be in a worse position than I was before I started!!

Anyone had any experience with these companies?

Thanks
Lee

RedEvo · Mar 11, 2008

These are clearly sites built for the purpose of selling links. They are not real websites.

Will they work? They might. Would I want links from them? No. I don't want to sound flippant because I know how hard it is to secure good links but these are not good links.

Here are some thoughts on link building.

d

john2008 · Mar 11, 2008

I think you should try to make backlinks rather than outsourcing to any company. Try to make 3 way backlinks or one way. Never do direct link exchange otherwise your site may be penalized from SEs.

DreamLifestyle · Mar 11, 2008

It would only drop you if you reciprocated back to the spammy sites.

Rhyl Lightworks · Mar 11, 2008

LeeDJC said:
Hi All

I've just signed up with a Company called It's Cold Outside. They're providing backlinks to my website.

Anyone had any experience with these companies?

Thanks
Lee

My only experience with them is that they have cold called me, despite my being on tps, and seemed unconcerned when I told them I was. I reported them to tps, as I did previously when I was cold called from the same no. by some-one representing a company with a different name. My impression is that they want your money, by providing a service which has dubious usefulness.
Barrie

I, Brian · Mar 11, 2008

Well, the first example given isn't even cached by Google: link value = zero.

It looks like an interesting if clumsy system - I'm presuming they are not charging very much for this service, though?

ken_uk · Mar 11, 2008

Have a read of this thread

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=58310&highlight=itscold

SillyJokes · Mar 11, 2008

They used to be called something else.

We don't accept calls from them.

Rubbish links can harm your SEO.

SillyJokes · Mar 12, 2008

Just found this about google penalising sites with paid for back links

http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-b...-s-nilhan-jayasinghe-on-google-penalties.html

stephendoyle · Mar 12, 2008

the trouble is with these sort of tactics they may will get you to
the first page on google but can they keep you there?

regards
stephen doyle

smartpr · Mar 12, 2008

This company contacted me to try and sell their services, but I declined upon which I received an email stating they were "shocked" at my decision and thought working with them would be a "no brainer". They didn't look or sound too impressive, and the sales person that contacted me didn't really seem to understand my concerns with their service.

BuyCatering · Mar 12, 2008

I've just started working at a company about 2 month ago, I'm looking after the site, SEO, PPC, etc. I get 3-4 cold calls a day now from companies wanting to do the SEO and PPC!

Geoff

seo_uk · Mar 12, 2008

BuyCatering said:
I've just started working at a company about 2 month ago, I'm looking after the site, SEO, PPC, etc. I get 3-4 cold calls a day now from companies wanting to do the SEO and PPC!

Geoff

There sales pitch tends to be better than their knowledge of SEO generally. I really enjoy getting calls from them

ScottB · Mar 13, 2008

When they used to offer SEO services I spent a lot of time working for another agency fixing their work (getting penalities removed) and since then I've heard nothing but bad things about them (in one case they removed all the previous link building work done after the client stop paying the monthly fee which they didn't tell her about!).

Run away - do it now - fast!

Scott

jim_gold · Mar 13, 2008

I second the above advice. Drop 'em like a hot potato. All they did for a client of mine was spend his money and bug*%$!se his website, which then needed more money spent on it to limit the damage.

They also cold-called my organisation for two years non-stop despite repeated requests for us to be taken off their prospect database. Seems their salespeople are allowed to put their own prospect lists together without central administration.

Buzby · Nov 11, 2008

These people have contacted me 3 times in 2 days and are extremely pushy.

On the last call I must have said that I was not interested a dozen times before I finally put the phone down on them.

I then did a search for them on Google and found this forum so not all bad.

SiriusPro · Nov 12, 2008

I would strongly advise you buying backlinks from anyone, Google now take a dim view of anyone buying or selling links from companies. Text Link Ads is another company that provide this service but their service does not conform to Google's rules, anyone found buying these links could be permanently removed from the search engines.

Think really carefully before buying a shed load of links that could damage your business more than enhance it.

With good on page SEO and content links will come naturally.

Google Statement about links:
Google works hard to ensure that it fully discounts links intended to manipulate search engine results, such excessive link exchanges and purchased links that pass PageRank. If you see a site that is buying or selling links that pass PageRank, let us know. We'll use your information to improve our algorithmic detection of such links.

In my experience, Google are much more sophisticated in detecting manipulating links for ranking purposes.

However, from a professional SEO, beyond the algorithm, buying links is
typically not a very productive tactic anyway.

You end up going thru 100+ worthless link opportunities to find a worthwhile one (maybe). Spending your time on writing content for instance would be a much worthwhile task, if you are not very good at writing then hire yourself a ghost writer, you can network these articles in various ezine boards.

Remember, you can control who links to you. You may find that others who you do link exchanges with carry out "excessive linking" strategies, so although you may only have a few, those others could be in "bad neighbourhoods", based on Google's algorithm, or someone could report you for buying links and then you really are in the dog house!

You would be better adopting more white hat SEO tactics.

All the best

Simone

MikeSmith · Dec 16, 2008

Bad news! I had problems with this company.. and when you try and cancel after your 3 month contract period.. they charge you 1 month penalty. Useless! Low quality backlinks.. I got 20'000 ! Which Google wisely no longer used to progress my site up the organic searches they did no competitor analysis, which would have allowed them to judge the correct number of backlinks we could get away with. Stay away! Get an Odesk account and employ someone in full time in India for a fraction of the cost.. and get highly skilled workers who know exactly what they are doing. up fee and the monthly fees I was truely screwed by 'Its cold outside' complete rip off !

MikeSmith · Dec 16, 2008

I should no better than to sign- up with someone after a cold call... But theyu caught me at a time when I was desperate for SEO.. and the sales pitch was very good.. which did turn out to be a load of crap. They do bugger all than flood your site with low quality backlinks. I believe this company should not be allowed to operate.. They target small business who do not have knowledge of SEO and are struggling to get up in the organic searches against larger companies. They must be making an absolute fortune! I think this is one for watchdog

UKSEOAgency · Dec 16, 2008

As soon as anyone says to me the name itscoldoutside I tell them to google the name - and click the second link and have a read before they sign anything

To save you guys time
http://www.searchengineforums.com/a...thread/thread::1106766109/forum::seo-general/

garethparkin · Dec 16, 2008

Don't touch them with a barge pole is my advice - I have heard many bad things about them and there techniques are poor and like a red flag to google. There are a few very very good link building companies where you can buy links from that do fly beneath the radar and hosted marketing pages are an excellent example of this.

Spock · Dec 16, 2008

I have had calls from them last week for both my companies and they don't seem to understand it when I say "thanks but I'm not interested"

After a while I put the phone down and they called back twice more - are they stupid or what???????

Steer well clear from them - nothing but trouble

SiriusPro · Dec 16, 2008

I have worked with a company who had dealings with itscoldoutside, it was complete and utter rubbish, I would seriously consider their tactics if I were you.

I would not consider buying links at all!

Simone

Sirius Pro Web Design and Marketing

matt.chatterley · Dec 16, 2008

SiriusPro said:
I have worked with a company who had dealings with itscoldoutside, it was complete and utter rubbish, I would seriously consider their tactics if I were you.

I would not consider buying links at all!

Simone

Sirius Pro Web Design and Marketing

Snap. Avoid ICO at all costs - do a quick search on this forum too, there are numerous threads floating around!

If you can get out of your deal - bail out right away!

KidsBeeHappy · Apr 30, 2009

But, if you really want to get their back up, ask them to show you one of the "2500 thousand companies that they've got on the first page of google".

Because that is one question that they will not answer.
It's cold outside, but probably an awful lot colder inside.

Easiest way to end any conversation - because they'll then hang up on You!

Best phrase ever from a "seo specialist company";
" I really don't care whether you come onboard or not, because i'll just move onto the next company"

fisicx · Apr 30, 2009

So what everyone is saying is that It's Cold Outside do not live up to their promises and that It's Cold Outside are a poor SEO company and that It's Cold Outside should be avoided all costs.

In fact are you suggesting It's Cold Outside are like swine flu: spreading all over the place but most unwelcome and hard to get rid of.

KidsBeeHappy · Apr 30, 2009

No, infact very very easy to rid of; just ask them to show you their results and name a sucessful client

Ali-v-8 · Apr 30, 2009

fisicx said:
So what everyone is saying is that It's Cold Outside do not live up to their promises and that It's Cold Outside are a poor SEO company and that It's Cold Outside should be avoided all costs.

In fact are you suggesting It's Cold Outside are like swine flu: spreading all over the place but most unwelcome and hard to get rid of.

Ha Ha Ha, You rascal you.

True though.

I think i got the impression that when they ring you should just put the Phone down and save a fortune on direct debits that are just gonna bleed your business dry with no return.

Now what's that thing called that feeds off the living in horror movies its cold too. oh yeah VAMPIRES.

KidsBeeHappy · Apr 30, 2009

Conversation goes;

Me; "Can you show me one of your clients that you've got to the first page of google"
Them; "No, we don't have to justify our company or results"
Me; "So, i'm just supposed to blindly hand you over £500pm? without having any indication of the work you'll do?"
Them; "That's what the other people do".

(and then the bit about not caring........)

I REALLY REALLY hope that they record their telephone calls. What a company!!

LibertyMarketing · Apr 30, 2009

Be thankful it's only the links. We've just inherited an ex-ICO client that used them for on-site stuff and their homepage is one of the most blatant examples of black-hat SEO (keyword stuffing, cloaking, hidden text, etc) that I've seen in quite some time.

They were also being charges a few hundred £ each month for Adwords management which must have been profitable as the account change history shows about 2 minutes of work each month.

OldWelshGuy · Apr 30, 2009

NOOOOOOOO that wasn't 'black hat spam' that was 'legitimate content layers'

ICo make me shudder.

GNU · Apr 30, 2009

SillyJokes said:
Just found this about google penalising sites with paid for back links

http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-b...-s-nilhan-jayasinghe-on-google-penalties.html

Just a bit of sabre rattling on Googles part... Google are not on top of this problem in any way shape or form. Also, it has to be very clear that these guys paid for the links. So called "Google Bowling" is a much talked about NEGATIVE SEO technique which involves spamming links into your competitor in the hope that they will incur a penalty.

What Google need to do is ignore spam / paid links all together so they cannot be used either positively or negatively.

But... every now and again they like to string someone up to make a point... like penalising Google Japan (idiots)... BMW for cloaking... etc. But aside from these PR stunts they dont do anything. The SERPs are stuffed with sites using these methods... and who can blame them.

OldWelshGuy · Apr 30, 2009

It has always been easy top take a competitor out. basic knowledge of IP cloaking and PR sculpting will remove a competiros site no problem. As you say GNU, Google don't really handle spam very well, mainly as in the past they tried it (florida update 5 yrs ago) and they threw not only the baby but the entire bathroom suite out with the bathwater !

SEO Positive · May 2, 2009

OldWelshGuy said:
NOOOOOOOO that wasn't 'black hat spam' that was 'legitimate content layers'

ICo make me shudder.

ha ha ha. And the 40,000 links that were built up in 2 weeks are what google loves, ha ha ha.

PrettyPaws · May 3, 2009

Just my 2p worth, I've heard very bad things about this company too. There methods seem to work, until you get banned that is

nancy_18am · May 4, 2009

LeeDJC said:
Hi All

I've just signed up with a Company called It's Cold Outside. They're providing backlinks to my website.

However, I'm concerned with the quality of the links - I think I'm right in saying that Google will drop my position if it thinks the sites are spam type sites?

I couldn't find any backlinks in Google, but found them in Yahoo. A couple of links here:

tvsrusonline.com/Articles/78870.html

bestdocumentmgmt-techoptions.com/Articles/90072.html

What are peoples thoughts on these?? The last thing I want to do is to be in a worse position than I was before I started!!

Anyone had any experience with these companies?

Thanks
Lee

BELIEVE ME THE BEST WAY TO BUILD BACKLINKS IS HIGH RANKING FORUMS AND BLOGS
REGISTER TO DIRECTORIES IT WORKS TOO

fisicx · May 4, 2009

nancy_18am said:
BELIEVE ME THE BEST WAY TO BUILD BACKLINKS IS HIGH RANKING FORUMS AND BLOGS
REGISTER TO DIRECTORIES IT WORKS TOO

But are those links of any use? Forum links are notoriously dodgy and recent events seem to indicate that Google only takes note of one forum links and ignores the rest. Blog comments are usually no-follow so won't even be indexed by the SE.

spike1968 · May 27, 2009

I took on a client last year and this is proving to be the hardest to achieve good positioning. We get so far only to be knocked back by a couple of pages.

The client then tells me he used 'its cold outside' I googled the term and here I am now reading with great interest all the stories.

Two things jump out at me... 'Google Bowling' and 'Negative Rankings'.

Can anyone guide me on the best way to establish what the cause is and how to rectify the issue.

Cheers

mubin · May 27, 2009

spike1968 said:
I took on a client last year and this is proving to be the hardest to achieve good positioning. We get so far only to be knocked back by a couple of pages.

The client then tells me he used 'its cold outside' I googled the term and here I am now reading with great interest all the stories.

Two things jump out at me... 'Google Bowling' and 'Negative Rankings'.

Can anyone guide me on the best way to establish what the cause is and how to rectify the issue.

Cheers

You took on a client for SEO services and are asking on a forum how you should get that site to the top of the rankings? Where do I sign up?

fisicx · May 27, 2009

spike1968 said:
I took on a client last year and this is proving to be the hardest to achieve good positioning. We get so far only to be knocked back by a couple of pages.

Can anyone guide me on the best way to establish what the cause is and how to rectify the issue.

Since the client is paying you for the service, how much are you prepared to pay for the information that will enable you to fulfill the contract?

Cookie Consent

Essential

Analytics

Marketing

It's Cold Outside Backlinks

john2008

Rhyl Lightworks

smartpr

BuyCatering

seo_uk

ScottB

SiriusPro

UKSEOAgency

SiriusPro

matt.chatterley

GNU

SEO Positive

PrettyPaws

spike1968