Someone Wants to Purchase a Links

They want invisible text!

[carfac]

Recieved this in the e-mail bin this moring. I have tried to take anything identifyable out...

I am writing to you regarding your web site:
http://www.XXXXXXXXX.com/

I run a search engine optimisation company, and would like to purchase a small text link from the bottom of your home page or any other page. The text link would be a miniature small link that would not be visible to the viewer and I would pay you on a monthly basis on a negotiated price through paypal wire transfer, or whatever payment method you desire.

Our company is experts at search engines and can also help your web site as a bonus receive more traffic from search engines.

If you are intersted in selling a small text link at the bottom of your home page, don't hesitate to reply.

End of e-mail.

This was sent via a form on my site, NOT as a Spam.

Obviously, this set off BIG red flags in my mind.... I would NOT do such a thing. But I thought it interesting that people would be willing to pay for a link from my pages with high PR...

dave

[sem4u]

>Our company is experts at search engines

So that is why they want to buy a hidden link?!?

You must have a high PR though :)

[carfac]

I almost feel like doing it just to see their link!

I thought that Experts line would get a laugh around here! :)

[Knowles]

<a href="theresite.com">Bunch of kwords hidden by invisable text due to them providing you the code</a>

It will look something like that ^

YOu can send me the money instead lol

[pendanticist]

The text link would be a miniature small link that would not be visible to the viewer and I would pay you on a monthly basis on a negotiated price through paypal wire transfer, or whatever payment method you desire.

...be a miniature small link... Uh, yeah.

Assuming the 'expert' statement to be even remotely true and that you may have a very good ranking already:

Once they pay you a few shekels, what's to stop them from then reporting you? Nothing at all. Sure would make for a cheap way to have you removed.

Devious, but well worth whatever monetary amount they would have paid to you.

Pendanticist.

[Liane]

Yoikes! People will try anything. Pity the poor (greedy) fool who falls for that one!

[rmjvol]

Did he sign it:

Sincerely,
Jakob (Jacob) Nielsen [webmasterworld.com]

[SlyGuy]

Jakob (Jacob) Nielsen

lol..that's just too funny :)

- Chad

[gopi]

If that site content is related to yours (even remotely) go for a visible link...

This is just text link advertisement and there is no wrong in it.

But in no circumstance put a invisible link in your site...Also check if the other site is not penalised...you dont want to link to bad neigbourhoods :)

[brotherhood of LAN]

I would check who else links to them, they might have the same deal with several sites.

Also check who the person links out to, he could be doing the same deal with other sites and just making a mark-up from the benefit you pass on :)

[carfac]

Well, I am NOT going to post the name or domain name, but I wish I could.... the site is VERY lame. One page, two sentences, and one very large picture. The verbage is SIMILAR to "What do I know about serach engines that you do not?"

I did check all the sites that link to that page. They are porn, ticket scalpers and similar.

Not even CLOSE to similar to my site.

I do not think he is a competitor "out to get me", however, that is a pretty funny idea!

dave