There are more and more cases proving penalties based on a websites incoming links even though Google say they will only devalue the 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.”

Now I can’t really moan for Google dishing out penalties for questionable link building practices but it would be nice for them to at least confirm the penalty exists and inform the user when penalised and how they may solve it.

Most/All SEOs should be aware of the consequences of their actions but anyone not in the industry is left a little clueless about the what the exact rules. Surely a -xx penalty should be more a warning and they should advise the person when they have gone wrong in order for them to learn from the incident.

But in the end, as much as I try to argue the point with myself, it ends up coming down to this:

It’s google’s search engine and they can do whatever they want. If you don’t like it, find somewhere else.

(Yes yes, they’re influencing the other engines too, but that’s besides the point… the fact is, that they “reserve the right of admission”)

As I say, I wish I could argue against myself with that point, but that’s where I always end up.

I’m not the sort to ascribe ulterior motives to people in power… I used to be, but I’m not anymore, so these sorts of opinions always come off as paranoid to me. Call me naive…

I don’t think the paid link policy is contrary to good SEO- too many people, in my opinion, try to make things happen in search rankings that they shouldn’t. I think the line between white and gray is closer to white than most people do.

Honestly, I can’t wait until search rankings are only about site quality and no gaming, including buying paid links, makes a difference.

Andrew; I had tried to post to an article you wrote recently, but couldn’t for some reason. I was going to praise it in a big way as I totally agreed with it.

Anyway; Marty; sorry. I’ve never claimed to be this great diplomat when it comes to this silly SEO industry. I’m simply stating the facts as I see them. The way SEO’s see things is more different than any other industry I’ve been involved in. I’ve been in quite a few. I’ve also never been involved in an industry where people get defensive of criticism like the SEO industry does.

And BTW Marty; I’ve often criticized Google and they know it. I hate the fact of penalizing or banning a site, and then turning around to sell the same damn site advertising via adwords. I’ve stated this many, many times and will continue to do so unless Google gets much stricter with blackhats and spam. Right now; it’s a slap on the wrist. I know directly how strict AltaVista was back in the day from being banned for one solid year for about 40 words of hidden text on a page. No one can tell me how bad Google is or how Google is out to get SEO’s because of that fact.