Backlink similarity question.

Same text for every backlink... bad?

[Duskrider]

Hello everyone,

I have a quick question regarding Google and the way it ranks the quality of backlinks. Basically, I'm planning on offering a service on my site that will allow other website owners to place some javascript in their page and grab some content from my site. (You've seen this before, similar to adsense though it has nothing to do with ads. Premise is the same)

My site will automatically generate a snippet of code for them to place on their site, and this will include the javascript it needs to run the feature as well as a static html link back to my site. This way, when the site gets spidered, the bot will see a link even though it doesn't parse the javascript.

My question is this: Say I have 1000 users put that code on their site, and ALL of those links into my site have the same exact text... "Widget Provided by OnlineWidgets.com" or some such.

Would G devalue those links in some way since they all have the same text on them?

Thanks for any info!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I have heard it said that it would devalue because it can plainly see that this is not natural linking but there are so many sites that do this so I am not so sure.

[Chris_H]

I agree, whilst it may not damage you, it won't be doing you any favours either.

If you've got server side scripting experience, you may want to generate different anchor text based on a random number. This will overcome the problem.

If you run IIS I'll be more than happy to compile the ASP for you.

[Duskrider]

Thanks for the replies, it's just as I suspected.

And thanks Chris_H, very much, for the offer. The random link text idea was actually in the back of my mind when I wrote the post. I don't claim to be a scripting master or anything, but I know my way around php well enough I think to do what I need. I'm mostly doing the site for the programming experience (read portfolio) anyway. :)

[jenniann111]

I know of a web site that does exactly this through free counters. They pop in and out of Google, sometimes totally gone, and sometimes with amazing positioning. My guess is that they are "toeing the line" and sometimes cross over and get filtered. Varying the link text is a MUCH better idea if you can do it.

[Alex70]

IMO you should not use exactley the same anchor text for 1000 links, google will penalyze your website.

[BigDave]

I don't think you would be penalized, you just won't get as much credit as if it were natural linking (which it isn't)

[arubicus]

" don't think you would be penalized, you just won't get as much credit as if it were natural linking (which it isn't)"

The thing to keep in mind is that you need to promote your site somehow. Having visitors to your site means you have a resource to tap into. Guiding them to drop a link to your site from their site, blog, tell-a friend, personal page, or whatever is a good way to promote your site period. You may get good traffic from one of those people linking to you. But, this is where the trouble comes in if google does in fact penalize or will penalize in the future.

I personally think it would be insane for them to completely wipe a site out for simply promoting your site. It is nothing unlawful or misleading just plain promotion. So I am apt to think they would just devalue such links so that webmasters can take this avenue of promotion without destroying their site.

As with the free counter example from above, I don't think it is riding a line of a penalty filter just that sometimes the links are counted and sometimes they are filtered. If they are filtered a drop in serps can be expected.