is this hidden link?

[vampke]

hi guys,

I just noticed that on my index page there is a leftover code I apparently forgot to cut
the code is:
<a class="somethin" href="link.html"></a>

is this considered as a hidden link by the bots?
or do they just ignore it or follow it?

could i expect a penalty for this?

[kaled]

Fix it and forget about it. I am currently overhauling my site and have found loads of little faults but I have no reason to believe any have accrued a penalty.

Kaled.

[Blackguy]

what about having a white color text link and a white color background is this a hidden link?

[Powdork]

what about having a white color text link and a white color background is this a hidden link?

Yes and it is the easiest to spot. Open the page -> hit ctrl A. Better ways to hide links involve css as well as other methods.
You can
1. Put them off the screen to the left
2. Use the method you mentioned above, just make sure your hover is set to white as well.
3. Hide the link behind an image
There are many more.
Keep in mind that you don't have to hide the link, you can just hide the fact that it is a link. Use css to make the hover state the same as the regular state including keeping the pointer (cursor) from changing.

Also keep in mind that hiding links is stupid. No offense.

[Blackguy]

i m talking about google ,penalities for hiding link .....

[vampke]

hi kaled,

thanks for replying
if it isn't penalised, why doesn't everybody just starts an html-page with <a href link></a><a href link></a><a href link></a><a href link></a><a href link></a>....
(you catch my drift)
this would be excellent for google, because as I understand outbound links are considered as well for PR and SERPS

[Powdork]

this would be excellent for google, because as I understand outbound links are considered as well for PR and SERPS

Outbound links have no bearing on your pr other than diluting the amount of pr you can give back to yourself. As far as the serps, it is unclear whether they have a positive impact, but if they do, it is only positive due to your linking to other authoritative resources for a given subject and they only seem to help for the anchor text of the outbound link.

Yes, Blackguy, that would/could get you penalized by Google. The reason I mentioned the ease with which it is spotted is that Google has a hard time finding hidden text algorhythmically. They rely on your competitors turning you in.

Stop worrying about pr and focus on your users. Short term doesn't matter anymore.

edited by Powdork