Newb question - linking to Google?

[TheTattooedGuy]

Hi guys

Been spending a while looking at various poker affiliate sites. I've noticed in a few, in the footer nav there's a link to Google - what is the purpose of this and is it in anyway beneficial? I've also seen links to Dmoz etc.

Need to satisfy my curiosity!

Thanks

[Peter Willis]

what is the purpose of this

People have taken the message of linking out to authority resources in the wrong way.

is it in anyway beneficial? I've also seen links to Dmoz etc.

Is it beneficial to users to have a link to the homepage of Google? No. Is it beneficial to users to have a link to the poker sites section of DMOZ? Possibly.

In summary, don't be afraid to link to relevant sources of authority which will be of benefit to your readers, but don't do it for the sake of it.

[Shay]

If you are #1-3 for a search term like "sit n go coaching" that gets traffic to it, linking out to the search results shouldn't hurt you. If you're listed in DMOZ for something, linking to that page shouldn't hurt you either. Both seem authoritative and both are quality sites. Plus, you are ranking or listed (draw your own conclusion). It might not be as wise to link out to a search result on google that you do not rank for and linking directly to google's homepage is just silly IMO.

[Notspot]

People have taken the message of linking out to authority resources in the wrong way.

On face value it looks like this but I think it's more that these links went up circa 07-08 when there was alot of talk about the benefits and people just haven't removed them. It's always good to link to authority relevant sites, although sitewide footers is not the way to go in 2011.

[CK]

If you are #1-3 for a search term like "sit n go coaching" that gets traffic to it, linking out to the search results shouldn't hurt you.

Def counterproductive. Why would you want to link to the search results for a term your trying to rank for.

To me that reads, the site isn't valuable, that the search results have more credibility than what the site has to offer.

Link to other sng sites or information regarding sng...not the serps. If your willing to send your traffic back to google, why wouldn't you link out to a site that's relevant to the topic.

but I think it's more that these links went up circa 07-08

^ This. I would rather link to an affiliate, .gov or resource site than dmoz, google or yahoo unless absolutely necessary and rarely is it necessary. Def better resources out there.

[Sebastian]

Agree with Kaus... but I would add caution about linking to affiliate sites.

Google's algo is clever at detecting affiliate sites,... and it's been my experience that one of the things they look at first are links.

If all your links come from affiliates sites (maybe your buddies) and your outgoing links point to affiliates sites as well (maybe low quality bonus sites from your buddies again), how hard is it to get tagged as an "affiliate site" ?

Affiliate sites link to => Your Site links to => Affiliate Sites

This doesn't mean you'll be penalized or anything, but it may play a big role when you're just launching a poker affiliate site... when you're in purgatory mode, and Google is deciding whether you go in the Sandox.

So I'd link to a wide range of quality sites like Kaus said, and a few affiliate sites here and there. But I'd caution against having an outgoing link profile that's only to poker affiliate sites.

Quality sites link to other industries as well. If your entire linking range is at the intersection of "poker affiliate sites" and "your niche", it's not very healthy imo.

[parttimepoker]

Good sites tend to link to good sites.

[absolutetilt]

linking to a few good authority sites in your niche is just a good signal to send the search engines; linking to google itself is so 2007, indeed.