Site offers to increase pr

should I be concerned

[Powdork]

I recently received an email similar to the one below. Should I start to be concerned about my relationship with this site. I would hate to see them be penalized for selling pr.

We now have banners available for $XX. The actual cost is $X,XXX, but because you have shown your support for OurDirectory, we feel this is a favorable opportunity for you to get additional listings for your site in OurDirectory, increase traffic to your site, and maybe even increase your PR*.

*This is not exactly what it says (per ToS) but it does make reference to PR by name.

This brings up a question. How do we say that we'll give you a link that will help you with Google. My technique is to stear clear of any names and simply say that "your listing will be designed to have a beneficial impact on search engine placement for queries you feel are important for your business." Or something equally vague.

[Dayo_UK]

The above wording you have quoted is pretty vague too.

I would say that if a directory/site suggests that providing a link may help with PR is pretty safe - after all they may not.

[rfgdxm1]

This sounds a lot like what is called "puffing" in advertising. Something like "a link from us maybe even will increase your Google PageRank" promises nothing. This is just a possibility. And, they aren't even selling links specifically on the basis of PR. Such as "A link on a PR6 page on our site costs XXX, and links on PR5 pages go for the lower price of XX." For anyone buying PR, the PR of the linking page, and the number of links on that page, would be critical. Their ad basically amounts to "buy a link from us, and several different good things for your site may happen."

[worker]

I would steer clear. Why risk it?

[SEO practioner]

Powdork are you starting a new engine?

[pageoneresults]

This is where you have to be very careful. If your plan is to publicly sell links based on PR value, then you are fighting a losing battle as that concept has been tried and failed in a public setting.

If I were selling banner ads, I would make no mention whatsoever of PageRank or how links help to improve rankings in search engines. Stay out of the mindset that the links are PR related and you are one step ahead.

Many who may see that ad might not have a clue as to what PageRank is or how it functions, heck, I'm clueless! ;)

We now have banners available for $XX. The actual cost is $X,XXX, but because you have shown your support for OurDirectory, we feel this is a favorable opportunity for you to get additional listings for your site in OurDirectory and increase traffic to your site.

Drop that last little part about PageRank and you are playing safe. Anyone who knows about PR will probably have the Toolbar installed and can verify PR on their own if that is all they are concerned with.

[Powdork]

This sounds a lot like what is called "puffing" in advertising. Something like "a link from us maybe even will increase your Google PageRank" promises nothing. This is just a possibility. And, they aren't even selling links specifically on the basis of PR. Such as "A link on a PR6 page on our site costs XXX, and links on PR5 pages go for the lower price of XX." For anyone buying PR, the PR of the linking page, and the number of links on that page, would be critical. Their ad basically amounts to "buy a link from us, and several different good things for your site may happen."

I 'think' you are right

I would steer clear. Why risk it?

Note the part about me being a supporter of their directory. I'm already listed (its a paid inclusion directory) from long time ago and they are offering me more.

Powdork are you starting a new engine?

No, I can't even get my Subaru's engine started;) Actually, this came from a well known directory and I'm surprised more members here don't know about the email, since I am assuming they got one too.

This is where you have to be very careful. If your plan is to publicly sell links based on PR value, then you are fighting a losing battle as that concept has been tried and failed in a public setting.

It's not me, but that is exactly why I was worried. My recollection, however, was that sites linked to from PRadnetwork lost the value of those links but were not given an additional penalty. is that correct?
in the meantime I sent them an email warning of the treacherous path they were on with a link to a searchKing thread.

<added>If my car is listening, I'm just kidding. You've been a great Subaru:)</added>

[ciml]

I think it's wise to be wary of anything that advertises PR, as such.

GoogleGuy's often pointed out that people might not get what they pay for. My research into PR buying and selling has found that often to be the case.