Does buying links work?

[Self Made]

Does buying links work? Looking at the first page of Google results for "online poker," it appears that they do. I took a look at the inbound links of a couple of the sites (one of which tried to buy a link from me recently) and it appears there are a lot of paid links: typically boxes with some text links in them. There aren't any nofollow attributes on those links. The sites even list their rates for these text ads.

I have noticed that some of the sites selling links seem to have lower PageRanks than I would have expected.

I've heard I should avoid buying or selling links, and have done so so far, but I'm wondering what people think. Does it work? Does it only work till you get caught?

[KevinMcC]

Search this up, there is a lot of information on it. Basically from what I have seen it does work, but google doesn't like it. Some sites end up getting 'caught' and punished by google which would suck big time. There are lots of ways to get links without buying them.

[sirtiner]

just remember, link exchange is not allowed either don't we just love google

[Self Made]

just remember, link exchange is not allowed either don't we just love google

To be precise, it's:

Excessive reciprocal links or excessive link exchanging ("Link to me and I'll link to you.")

[sirtiner]

And how do you make a link exchange? you don't ask? you give a link and hope for one back? 1 in a 1,000

[Trikkur]

Google allows reciprocal linking, just not "excessive".

[sirtiner]

well, go to google groups forum whatever and ask for a review and you will be put down, i havent but i like to read what they say.
It's like - "you have one link that you have exchange! you don't deserve to be in google, delete your site or we will sue your ass!"

It's funny, i would like to see the "reviewers" sites, see if there is any "bad" things going on.

Maybe im way off, but i don't think so.

[Marcelo]

I think that everyday google discover new ways to detect paid links, and value them lower and lower.

[mickn888]

I had somebody approach a site of mine last week wanting to buy a footer link. I declined as I don't want to get into selling links (particularly as the site in question is a 100% white hat long term effort). I thought about selling them the link as I could have done with a few quid in old blighty. But the funny part is a footer link adds zero to tiny link juice these days. (Try doing a blog post, but instead of publishing the post on your blog, link to it from the homepage - then see where it ranks!)

Anyway, I think certain form of link purchases work..ie links in content. But the risk is you spend 20k buying links, then one of your competitiors reports you (which happens a lot I am told, espec in the bigger areas)....you can kiss that 20k goodbye. Spotting purchased links is not hard.

But if it is small niche site, that I want to build, and leave alone once its build...then I would probably consider buying a few links (in content). Downside is low, and will report back here when i do this.

Sitewide links are rubbish as well. Zero benefit. As are links on the links page.

[mickn888]

Here is an article from a while back that I came accross...
SEOmoz | 8 Ways to Buy Links Without "Buying Links"