Is Dell.com using paid text links too?

Staying on topic with my recent post on Proflowers and paid links......

Hot off the press today from BlogoScoped.com is an analysis that Dell.com is either involved in paid link schemes or a competitor is making it look like Dell is involved. 

The article can be read here: Is Dell Buying Text links? 

I tend to believe the former scenario than the latter.

Paid Text Links & the #1 Online Retailer on Conversion Rates

In a recent article by Mark Jackson of Search Engine Watch, the author expressed his frustration with Google on its lack of policy enforcement as it pertains to “paid links.” Jackson explains how hard it is to convey to clients why “paid links” aren’t a good idea all the while knowing that they work. In his own words:

“I want to scream to the spam police at the major search engines. If you want us to operate in an ‘ethical’ manner, show us that you're penalizing the Web sites that abuse your guidelines! Not just one here and another there. That doesn't get our attention.” (See reference)

I can think of no better example for Google to make a statement than with the #1 online retailer on conversion rates: Proflowers.com. As is common knowledge among many SEOs, Proflowers.com has been actively engaged in influencing Google’s algorithm through the use of “paid links” for several years now and is quite brazen about it.

I started writing about paid text links in the floral industry over a year ago and more recently here on Florist SEO Watch. The article I wrote over a year ago actually ranks in the top 10 results for the search phrase “paid text links” and directly covers Proflowers.com. I sure find it hard to believe that a member of Google’s spam brigade has never read it given its exposure. 

Here’s my take on paid text links: Google’s policy may state that buying text links is outside of its acceptable guidelines, but the level of tolerance is by fact unknown. When I look at the link campaign for Proflowers.com I am utterly floored by the excessive amount of paid text links that I see. To me, when I compare their efforts to others of the same caliber, Proflowers.com stands out as a heavy link buyer. Is Google clueless to all this? I don’t think so.

It has been said by other SEOs that Google is more lenient & tolerant toward large company violations, but if that is true then Mark Jacksons’ “scream” falls on deaf ears and will continue to. Penalizing smaller companies is not a sign that Google is serious. In fact, giving larger companies diplomatic immunity sends a confusing message to smaller businesses who often try to copy larger businesses for success. 

Proflowers “Florist” Searches & Influencing Results

According to Google’s Traffic Estimator, the number of searches for the term “Florist” average around 1,247 to 1,558 a day or about 45,000 searches a month. Hence, ranking in the top 3 spots for this particular search phrase is very important. So important, in fact, that the likelihood of a major order gatherer stepping outside of Google’s rules and guidelines in an effort to manipulate the search results is very real.

Since I’ve observed in the past that Proflowers likes to rank using risky SEO tactics on certain high-level keywords, I thought I would take a little peek at how they are currently ranking for the term “florist.” Over the years I’ve noticed that Proflowers seems not to be too concerned about Google’s warning about manipulating their search algorithm so I’m sure they are not concerned with me talking about it here.

As is common knowledge, ranking in Google’s algorithm is largely based on a complex link-voting system. Those who are aware of how this works will often times get caught up in gathering *too many* link-votes artificially. Google’s position on this is that if you gather link-votes artificially you risk being removed from their index.    

So with that as our back drop, I thought I’d look at the top 40 supporting link-votes to get a better grasp of the situation. My opinion on whether or not the link-vote is real will be label “paid” or “real” in the right column below. Keep in mind that I’m only giving my opinion on the most recent top 40 link-votes for their validity while there are many hundreds in actuality.

Go ahead and click through some of the links and tell me what you think. There seems to be three methods of link-vote buying going on. While not too many of the top 40 are real which I find interesting. 

1	http://www.essentialgardenguide.com/	florist flowers	Paid
2	http://www.backyardgardener.com/rose/index.html	Florists	Paid
3	http://playinginthedirt.ca/?paged=2	florist	Paid
4	http://www.premiumtaste.com/Wine/Covered_Strawberry_Ros.....	?	?
5	http://encarta.msn.com/florists.html	florist	Real
6	http://www.mahalo.com/Online_Florists	ProFlowers	Real
7	http://directory4flower.com/roses.html	online florist	Paid
8	http://www.nichewatch.com/florist.html	www.proflowers.com	Real
9	http://computersandjunk.com/Blog-89.html	florist	?
10	http://www.directory4flower.com/bulbs.html	online florist	Paid
11	http://www.directory4flower.com/gifts.html	online florist	Paid
12	http://www.proinvestortrader.com/?m=200710	florists	Paid
13	http://www.directory4flower.com/wreaths.html	online florist	Paid
14	http://www.redenvelop.com/	Premium Collection	Real
15	http://www.directory4flower.com/orchids.html	online florist	Paid
16	http://www.myaffairs.com/TopSites_Floral.htm	ProFlowers: Your dependable online florist	Real
17	http://www.directory4flower.com/services.html	online florist	Paid
18	http://www.directory4flower.com/tropical.html	online florist	Paid
19	http://www.directory4flower.com/gardening.html	online florist	Paid
20	http://www.directory4flower.com/fresh-cut.html	online florist	Paid
21	http://dagboek.thesserie.com/crazy-about-flowers/	florist	Paid
22	http://www.directory4flower.com/fresh-flowers.html	online florist	Paid
23	http://www.directory4flower.com/dried-flowers.html	online florist	Paid
24	http://www.directory4flower.com/flower-nursery.html	online florist	Paid
25	http://www.proflower.com/	Premium Collection	Real
26	http://hoboken411.com/?p=116&akst_action=share-this	Florists	Paid
27	http://www.directory4flower.com/pressed-flowers.html	online florist	Paid
28	http://www.directory4flower.com/birthday-flower.html	online florist	Paid
29	http://www.directory4flower.com/flower-essences.html	online florist	Paid
30	http://www.directory4flower.com/flowering-plants.html	online florist	Paid
31	http://www.directory4flower.com/christmas-flower.html	online florist	Paid
32	http://www.directory4flower.com/wholesale-flowers.html	online florist	Paid
33	http://www.directory4flower.com/theme-arrangements.html	online florist	Paid
34	http://www.directory4flower.com/flower-garden-tool.html	online florist	Paid
35	http://www.directory4flower.com/father-s-day-flower.html	online florist	Paid
36	http://newsnet.byu.edu/specialsections.cfm	Premium Collection	Real
37	http://www.directory4flower.com/mother-s-day-flower.html	online florist	Paid
38	http://www.directory4flower.com/preservation-services.html	online florist	Paid
39	http://www.directory4flower.com/florist-search-engines.html	online florist	Paid
40	http://pinktwilight.uni.cc/madly-in-love-savor-the-passion/	florist	Paid