How to hide many outbound links on google

[serenoo]

I read here that google can detect javascript code and at the same I read that follow or nofollow links are treated at the same way from a PR point of view.
I have a website and I need to add many outbound affiliation links on all the pages. That means if I add follow or nofollow my pages will became more weak.
Is there a way to hide such outbound links to google to avoid losing power?

[Planet13]

I've asked something of a similar question in other forums, and the only answer I got was to nofollow the affiliate outbound links.

True, it won't help sculpt page rank. the only thing it will do is help prevent google thinking that your site is a link farm trying to pass pr to other sites.

As far as hiding links, don't know about that at all.

[aristotle]

Trying to hide links is a violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines. To do so is to risk having your site penalized or even completely removed from Google's index.

[serenoo]

I think that writing javascript code is not a violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines. Probably is there a way to write a complicated javascript google cannot recognize?

[FranticFish]

Google cannot follow links created using document.write AFAIK - you can also block them from the javascript file that contains the link function(s)... although this is basically cloaking, and as stated above I doubt Google would 'approve'.

[tedster]

Let's make that "if the document.write is an external js file and if that file is excluded via robots.txt - then they *shouldn't* read it." But if the <a> tag itself (or even a form input) appears on the page, then Google will count it as a link.

My honest advice would be not to give this area lot of concern. How many extra links are you adding to any one page, after all? You're probably risking more damage by trying to hide it than just being straightforward.

[serenoo]

On any page I would add 40 outbound affiliation links. So you can understand now because I have such problem.

[tedster]

Yes, you do. My prediction is that you cannot get that past Google, and when they see it they won't like it. I'd probably rethink the whole plan.

How well established is the site? Does it offer awesome value right now?

[serenoo]

It is has been created on Feb-2010. It is very young, but full of huge unique content. It is only for Italian market in Italian language. Good architecture with about 40 backlinks (only directories and articles). I add one backlink every week. It has only 3 natural links. Its position is 24th for its main keyword. It receives long tails clicks. It has 3 columns: navigation menu, body text, affiliation links. It is about poker for this reason I would like to add as many poker rooms I can. IF you have suggestions ...

[Shaddows]

If the same links every time, try an iframe. Otherwise, I'd still go for an iframe, with a script running on your server doing the selection

[serenoo]

Wow this is a great trick. Thank you Shaddows.
Yes the 40 links on the right column are always the same and they are on all the pages.
In this way every page will have an outbound link (the iframe) instead of 40 links, right?

[enigma1]

Is there a way to hide such outbound links to google to avoid losing power?

If you don't want js nor the questionable nofollow you could use a POST form for each link. To humans it will still appear like a link and from the SEs there will be no penalty neither a chance to raise a red flag because of iframes.

[Planet13]

Yes the 40 links on the right column are always the same and they are on all the pages.

Just from a user's perspective (not a bot's perspective):

40 affiliate links in the right column is a lot.

My humble opinion is that you might get MORE CLICKS on the affiliate links if there were only about three to five of them and they were customized to each page.

make them look nice (maybe with appropriate images) and make them relevant to the content.

Just an idea. I know if I saw the same list of 40 links over and over I wouldn't pay attention to them. Just too intimidating.

Hope this helps.

[serenoo]

If I change my template with an iframe then every page will have an outbound link (the iframe) instead of 40 links, right?

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Some of the suggestions I've just read are scary. Here's my simple take on the matter.

#1 - Offer something of value on those same pages that have affiliate links. A review, reader feedback, pictures, etc.

#2 - Reduce the number of affiliate links in total, offer a paging option if you must have tons of them available to show only a few at once.

#3 - Increase the number of non-affiliate pages on site as well as the number of links to those added resources in the sidebar. The idea here is to increase the non-affiliate to affiliate link ratio.

Cloaking, hiding, showing different content to googlebot or being sneaky in any way will generally end badly, eventually.