Getting paid for links.

Is there a danger?

[HeyJim]

Gee, I guess we've reached the "big time". I just received an email offering a couple hundred dollars for an unspecified time period for a link from our PR5 site. One of the many link brokers is making the offer.
We really do have a profit making site in that one and I'm not doing *ANYTHING* intentionally stupid to ruin things.
How much danger is there in selling a few links on my site? I'd guess they're talking home page links.

[The Contractor]

Nothing wrong with it, but keep control of what sites, and how the advertisements are presented. Don't let the money cloud your judgment of how you feel about it. Don't be afraid to say "no" to the link/site in question or the contents of the text/link. Do not sell ROS links (my opinion).

[HeyJim]

ROS links? What't that?
And, no, a couple hundred a month if they're even offering that much is not going to cloud my judgement. Too much else at stake but thanks much for helping me stay focused on being cautious.

[ken_b]

ROS = Run of Site. A link on every page.

[graywolf]

Do a 1 month trial to see if you like. If you do then go with a 3 or 6 month term.

[chrisnrae]

People sell advertising in the form of text links all the time. IME, there are a few things to watch out for when selling text ads from a site that you consider valuable...

-- Don't start advertising that you're "selling" links. Keep the deals private and the details off your site.
-- The quality of the site you are linking to. I wouldn't link to sites using spam tactics or those promoting high spam areas (think online gambling).
-- The more related the site theme, the better, IMHO - as it would simply seem more natural under a hand review or when looking at the relations between the types of sites you are linking out to and who is linking back to you.
-- Keep an eye on the site and make sure the content doesn't radically change the week after you add its links or at any time in the future.
-- Make sure you are charging what your links are worth and getting a good deal for your site. The broker is acting as a middleman in this situation - so you may want to keep that in mind.
-- Don't get greedy and make your footer area a link brothel. Having 12 unrelated links pointing out to sites from your footer is a little easy to spot.

That said, if the site is related and clean, I don't see any problem in going for it.