Is this Client Missing the Point?

Client Wants Me to do a Link Campaign Using a Gmail Account

[neuron]

I know people have done campaigns from hotmail and yahoo accounts in the past, and perhaps some have even used gmail before, but I never have. I guess I pretty much assume that it's a given the email for a linking campaign is SMTP/POP from the inviting domain. That lends a lot more credibility than from Hotmail or Yahoo email accounts, unless perhaps such are registered authentically with accurate user information in a published profile.

All that aside, it is the big G in the gmail account that would worry me. I know they said no person would ever read gmail emails, but couldn't they mine it to find any domain that's ever been mentioned in more than 250 or so link exchange (or keyterm synonymous) emails? Would they?

Personally, I don't think G would do that, even if they could and the main reason is that they don't really care. I believe they have link spam detection methods that are on a whole different level than blog links, or one-way links, or reciprocal links, or 3-way links, or paid links, or affiliate links. My take is that their link spam filters actually identify abusive patterns in links no matter what their semantic/popular name, and if you leave nasty footprints, your links become devalued.

So, to me, I don't see them doing this. But then again, I do see it. The world is not a good and evil, black and white dichotomy, but a resplendent gradation of in between. Google's news about being sued by the gov't for release of info on search, and their involvement with censoring search results at China's request clearly shows the do-no-evil thing is like a kindergarten misunderstanding of conscience.

How adamant should I be about running the campaign on a linking domain POP/SMTP email?

[CainIV]

The world is not a good and evil, black and white dichotomy, but a resplendent gradation of in between

Well said. Nietzche would disagree by simply responding that Good and Evil are entities entirely fashioned by human desire:P

I use my domain pop email to send off requests. Why? Becuase it's more credible.

I only email sites that are accepting trades and are very relevant to me. I write emails that are straight to the point and dont mass send anything.

Stick to those rules and you should always do fine.

As soon as I see a gmail, mail, yahoo or hotmail account sending me trade requests, it raises a red flag with me.