Are some directory fees considered paid links?

[gouri]

Is paying to be ranked at the top of a category or for faster processing in a web directory considered link buying and something that those who having mentioned paid links here consider to be link buying?

Sometimes it may cost $2.00 to do one of these things. (not trying to sound funny)

[edited by: tedster at 5:04 pm (utc) on Oct. 27, 2009]
[edit reason] moved from another location [/edit]

[tedster]

Paying for expedited processing in a directory is not a paid link. As long as the directory has a strong editorial policy and doesn't accept just anyone who pays, then Google has made it clear that there's no penalty.

In terms of paying for a higher position on the page, I can't say for sure, but my guess is that it's no big deal.

However, a $2 fee sounds to me like the directory is not going to be doing you much good, either.