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What exactly defines cross linking?
1. I have 6 sites, and every one of the sites has its own table of contents. This is a page (or group of pages) that link to all the content within the site to make sure that google accesses all of them. The link from the main page to this TOC is hidden (it is a link on a 1x1 image). Is this a bad thing or a good thing? Will google penalize me for having a hidden link?
2. Can I add the table of contents from one site unto another site so that google links to all the pages to that site as well? Or is that called "cross linking"? How is that different from a link exchange?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Well, I know there is the possibility of me being penalized for them. What I wanted to know is what expert opinions exist on them.
The sites are already optimized, however google has never successfully spidered my entire site in all 3 years I have been online.
I have not implemented #2, however I wanted to know what people think of it.
As for #1, I have actually read numerous posts on people who suggest you do that, and that google will recognize that those links point to the same domain.
Is this true? I would expect a table of contents would be very safe.
The sites are already optimized, however google has never successfully spidered my entire site in all 3 years I have been online.
Yes...I have done that for about two weeks now and think i am prepared. :-)
I just want to really make sure this happens right and not have to wait another month.
Rfg: Thank you very much for the suggestion. I believe I will do just that.
Okay, here's another question.
If I link the "Site Map" link to my TOC, and stylesheet it with a color that makes it invisible to users, will google catch that?
In other words, does google attach styles to links and then see if they are hidden?
The reason I ask is that the site map really does not seem to fit anywhere on the site.
The reason I ask is that the site map really does not seem to fit anywhere on the site.
That's why you make it a small link and bury it, but whatever you do don't hide it.
The same thing will happen with those 1 x 1 pixel images.
Just make a real link which is visible and call it site map.
Don't try to hide it from users.
You will be much better off for it than playing with fire as you have described here ... you will get burned.
Thanks guys.
:-)
You can be sure that if you end up getting any search engine visibility your competitors won't miss it, and if Google's missed anything they'll be glad to help them along in discovering your site, which is only one click away
[google.com...]
There are "hobbyists" out there who keep a prominent bookmark for that report, some taking special delight in describing their discoveries.
The official word on it is very clear, right here:
Google's Guidelines for Webmasters [google.com]
Hidden links, using 1 pixel gifs or otherwise:
Avoid hidden text or hidden links
Relating to duplicating site maps over multiple domains to increase PR and instances of keyword-rich anchor text
Don't create multiple pages, subdomains, or domains with substantially duplicate content
Not too different from a webmaster creating their own link scheme network of sites:
Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank
It may work for a while to do those, and a lot of people do them, but it's unlikely that anyone will tell someone else that it is alright when Google says it isn't. The other search engines aren't too crazy about hidden text or other tricks, either.
[edited by: Marcia at 1:43 am (utc) on April 7, 2003]
And, why go to extreme efforts to hide the site map from users? Who cares if they wander in?
Regarding hidden links, is the definition a link that is invisible, or hard to see?
What is the criteria?
I have added the links, and they are visible, but I have set it up so that at first glance they don't stick out.
They are also a size of "9". Is that acceptable?
Regarding hidden links, is the definition a link that is invisible, or hard to see?
Take a look at the bottom of the very page on this site you are reading. That sort of small link is acceptable. If you place something like that at the bottom of your home page with an uninteresting sounding "site map" anchor text, not many will wander in.
What I want to know is, what observations can someone give me on what googlebot will categorize as one.
If someone reports me, I am not worried because it is in fact visible.
Either you can see or not.
Invisible: ie, surfer can not see it.
Visible: Surfer can see it.
There is no in between because when it gets reported and has to go through a manual review, then it best be visible other wise you'll be banned.
Does the googlebot have that capability or is it solely based on user submitted reports?
:-)
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of webmasters? Googlebot knows. ;)
okay, okay.
I know that google sees all.
See, it must compare shades of fonts to the background color... so I was wondering if anyone knew what level of shading it includes.
But I guess it is pretty intelligently done, so I'm not going to worry about it as long as visitors can see everything.
There is a lot of speculation and people putting up mathematical equations, etc., but in reality, there are many parts of the algo that are not public knowledge.
If you even have any doubt as to what the algo may or may see, then I wouldn't do it.
Getting banned can be a life altering experience for some and from what I've seen posted on the board it very hard to get unbanned.
