Good Links, Bad Links

[Top Hat]

Like other I have many SEO questions and finding the right answer can be difficult with so many contradicting opinions

So here’s my first question hopefully it will have a simple answer, that all agree on.

1.
Good links have a positive SEO impact

Bad links have a negative SEO impact

OR

2.
Good links have a positive impact

Bad links have no impact, until a threshold is reached, then they have a negative impact.

OR

3.
Something else

The reason I ask is:
If it’s 1 then everyone might benefit from going through their links removing a few.
If it’s 2 then its only worth spending time on it if you have had a Google warning.

 

[Normansmith]

The answer is 3. something else

 

[Top Hat]

The answer is 3. something else

Which is?

1234567890

 

[Normansmith]

Change Good to "Quality" it's now all down to trust. A good link can be linked to by some bad links and you can get the grief. A "bad" link can be an seo smokescreen So without discussing paid, no follow, follow etc just think quality.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

1.
Good links have a positive SEO impact - yes this is true, but it is what defines a 'good link' that is the problem.

Bad links have a negative SEO impact - not always, and not on their own. again bad links need to be defined. Badlinks can be good links with an overreliance on a single term as anchor text.

OR

2.
Good links have a positive impact - See above

Bad links have no impact, until a threshold is reached, then they have a negative impact. See above, I go with this.

OR

3.
Something else

The reason I ask is:
If it’s 1 then everyone might benefit from going through their links removing a few. If a page carrying your link has been de-indexed by Google then it might be an idea to get that link removed if it is possible, because google are not valuing the page.
If it’s 2 then its only worth spending time on it if you have had a Google warning. - You must spend time on link evaluation, especially anchor text % as these are the things that can wake up the black and white bird, and that is absolutely not what you want.

replied a bit in read. The problem is Google is using on page off page in tandem, so lets say for instance you have a set of links, there is a bit of over reliance on some words in the anchor text, but all is well as it balances it with your on page stuff.

THEN an ess eee owe gooroo comes along and 'sorts out' your on page SEO, NOW these pages are slightly stuffed, title, desc, H1, H2, copy, bold, in links etc.

NOW Google look at that, run the algo over the on page poff apge and BOOM! you get a google slap because the on page off page balance has changed and you are now linking to what is essentially an overoptimised page, with the anchor text that your page is OO'ed for.

So mister good link, has suddenyl become mister bad link OR HAS IT?

Many people are running out removing links when what they should be doing is looking at the anchor text and pages being linked to.

Sorry if that has muddied the waters further

 

[eventdomain]

Never get links for SEO value, over time you will always lose as you get knocked back down the SERPS for whatever reason takes a fancy.

The SERPS are out of your control to a large extent, so links should be purchased for the traffic they send, while your website does the conversions.

Links are merely a 'transporter' from one website to the next, BUT the portals, directories and hub sites have the value, and thus deliver traffic via the link, so the link carries weight as its placed on a site's status, where its members, traffic is the value.

 

[eventdomain]

Many people are running out removing links when what they should be doing is looking at the anchor text and pages being linked to.

Yes, thats the correct way of looking at it. There's no advantage in removing links that deliver traffic - ANY visitor can turn out to be that huge client that spends £10k or more with you. Never stop the flow of traffic to your website - its web suicide....

 

[OldWelshGuy]

I disagree with the bit in Bold Ed, links are FAR more than that. Bad links can get a site slapped, it can lose its traffic and put the business through. Good links can push a site to the top of Google.

So for you to say that links are merely a transporter from one site to the next is not 100% accurate.

Links are probably the most important thing within the Google algorithm currently, more now than ever, because links can now harm you as much as they can help you.

Also you say 'directories have the value, but Google has openly warned against the use of low quality directories, or directories that sell links without using the nofollow attribute.

Don't want to sidetrack this thread beyond the pure ranking SEO value of links ebcause that is what the OP has asked about

 

[Ali-v-8]

ALi's guide to links (make your own conclusion)

A link - is a referral.
Back link - a link that brings traffic "BACK" to the homepage (only)
Deep link - Links from website to any page within your website (not homepage)
Internal link - a link from one page of your website to another page on your website. (when it goes back to homepage it is an internal "Backlink)
Linking to a website - You are saying you like this website
Linking a keyword to a website - You are saying that the word or phrase that you are linking has a relationship to the page you are linking to or in other words you may find information on the page about that word.
Linking using anchors - YOU WILL find information about the word you are clicking. (definitive) - Here's the important thing, "IF" You anchor to a page that isnt correctly optimised then the link is useless and page is devalued this is extremely detrimental if you are internal linking (less iff its external).

OK so if you are with me so far - part two

You cannot be held responsible for people referring your website. ( Google knows this isnt possible for you to control and has a tool to help you disallow)
However - Google will hold you responsible for Links on your website which you obviously are in control of.

Link farms - being a part of one will get you penalised.
How do you know? Simply look at the links that you have on your website and ask yourself are they relevant.
Its worth noting that sometimes you can slip under the radar and for a long time you can benefit form these farms - But all it takes is one site to be spotted and then every one is punished almost immediately - then its time to buy a new URL. (see GNUS as an example)

 

[eventdomain]

A sudden, overpowering terror, within the web world, as its all paid adverts/listings now and it ain't going away anytime soon. Every time I find a new site, go to the 'advertise here' page, there it is - BANG! we want £700 for a link, or its 'Please contact us to discuss advertising' - so just shows the free ride is over.

SEO used to be great, loved it back in 2006, traffic was incredible, 30k of visitors a month, for ANY site style, as long as it served decent web time..... NO problemo!! We used to put out 2 sites every 3 years or so of various types eg: forum, blog, directories, anything with serious content that added to our portfolio. Its now tougher for new websites to seed (never mind grow) into that 'built-up' position as decent links cost money - not necessarily stupid money, but money all the same.

2003 +...... Superb days.... - wack up a new site, get 300 links and you were laughing all the way to link heaven. Tons of one-ways would find you, hundreds of link requests filled our inbox - wow - it couldnt have been easier. Links would multiply faster than 'rabbits on heat', but it didnt matter back then, as links were links.

We figure another 12 months and 'freebie city' will be gone. I hate to think what Social networking is like then, its spam heaven right now

Content sites will rule the web, and if you dont own one, better get building or your free ranking days are over.

 

[tomkent45]

In my opinion links linking to your own website is beneficial relevant if:

the website has a high page rank
traffic
has the same niche as your website

 

[Ali-v-8]

I hope I am speaking for everyone when i say " ED ????????" :|
But then i think everyone kept quite Because now you'll go onto an irrelevant off topic rant

What i am more curious about is you traffic figures dropped from Millions to only 30k - where did they all go???