Purchasing links directly

[Kurgano]

I know of a particular site that displays adsense, offers text links and ads directly via an "advertise with us" page and uses a third party company to sell a limited number of links on the site footer.

Somehow I don't think this is a rare thing these days.

To target the site directly in adwords turns out to be the most expensive of the options and also guarantees no PR will flow from the site to the adwords users site. Theres also no guarantee that the ad will be on the site 24/7.

Next is using the "advertise with us" option. Cheaper than AdWords, PR flows, 24/7 placement.

The best option with this site is the third party link provider! Cheapest by 50% due to the services pricing meter. PR flows, 24/7 placement for a month.

Am I forgetting other benefits to using adwords that would make it worth using in this case? Google blindness apparently means a lot less traffic from even great placement nowadays if other threads here are an indication.

[jdancing]

If they openly advertise they sell text links, place the paid links in the footer or sidebar of the site, plus use a text link broker chances are very good the site has been identified as a link seller and does not pass pagerank so its links are basically worthless.

An Adsense ad has a bit of value because you will get at least a few clicks.

[bwnbwn]

Jdancing "as a link seller and does not pass pagerank so its links are basically worthless"

This statement is incorrect as the "Real" reason for a link is traffic not rankings so if this link drives traffic to your site related to your site how is it worthless...

One thing we all need to get away from is the mentality of links for search engines this is gone for the most part..I said most part and what you should consider more now than ever is generating traffic any way you can to keep the cost of traffic down..No better way than some really good Paid for links and good sites to exchange with..

Forget the search engines.. It's all about traffic...

[martinibuster]

>>>Forget the search engines.. It's all about traffic...

Can't forget search engines when search is the gateway to the internet. Alternatives to search are fine, and can sometimes even convert better, a significant amount of traffic is from search. It cannot be ignored or forgotten.

[nzmatt]

There's no reason to 'forget search engines' that I can think of...

'does not pass pagerank so its links are basically worthless' > as far as PR is concerned the affect may actually be negative.

[bwnbwn]

I am not saying to ignore the search engines but build the site in such a way it comes natural. A link should not be for search engines and PR please this is old and mostly gone bye bye.

I say again a link is for one thing and one thing only traffic to the site, if it benifits the engine standings of the site wonderful.

This type of attitude tends to build links that are more natural

[martinibuster]

Is that like saying the way to a sex-crazed lifestyle is not by chasing women, but reading daily, exercising and showering daily and the women will come to you naturally?

I'm with you that, if you're building an authority site, it's best to concentrate on quality, take a shower every day etc. However you still have to let webmasters know you're out there, i.e. there's still quite a bit of footwork to do.

[nzmatt]

And if you’re in say the army, or say travel, you may well have to walk a little further or do some ‘spade work’ (as we used to call it back in the day), as the competition is plentiful and the ladies/links are few and far between.

I must admit, wooing the opposite sex was a little more fun than wooing high PR on topic links. No less difficult mind you.

But each to their own…