Linkshare Link - does Google penalize as a paid link?

[Digerati]

Google is pretty clear on how they feel about paid links - they hate 'em. So as we think about getting into an affiliate partnership with Linkshare, I found myself wondering whether these links wouldn't also be construed as PAID by Google. After all, we are paying for them. We have great organic rankings in Google and I don't want to jeopardize those for an affiliate program that I don't know will even perform. Can someone help clarify on whether a Linkshare link would be looked at as a paid link by Google, and therefore be subject to their penalty or not?

[MadeWillis]

I run a LinkShare affiliate program with thousands of affiliates, have great organic rankings, and have not seen any problems. We've been running the program with LinkShare for a few years. All affiliate links through LinkShare, when clicked, are redirected from LinkShare's tracking system, they are not direct links. I'd imagine Google can tell pretty easily that these are affiliate links. On the other side, I've seen reports of affiliate sites (not merchant sites) having problems with rankings when they have too many affiliate links on their site.

[Reno]

Isn't this an example where "nofollow" would clarify the relationship to Google between your site and Linkshare?

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[Digerati]

Reno - Yes the 'nofollow' would help but I don't have any control over how the affiliates link to our site and whether they use the 'nofollow' attribute or not. Therein is the problem.

[tedster]

All affiliate links through LinkShare, when clicked, are redirected from LinkShare's tracking system, they are not direct links.

That's the key, I'd say. The rel="nofollow" attribute is just one way out of many to stop paid links from passing PageRank - and THAT is what Google is on the warpath about. You can buy and sell all the links you want if they don't pass PR, and tracking system redirects do not pass PR.

[Digerati]

tracking system redirects do not pass PR.

Thank you, Tedster. That settles the issue for me.

Thanks MadeWillis for sharing your knowledge as a Linkshare user.