Google's Cutts: Be Careful Linking Many Sites Together

Yesterday, Google's Matt Cutts posted a video answerto the question "If I have 20 domains, should I link them all together?"

The short answer is, most likely no - you should not link them all together.

As I explained at Search Engine Land with my article titles Google's Matt Cutts: Linking 20 Domains Together Likely A "Cross Linking Scheme" - it may be considered by Google as a cross linking scheme - at least those are the words used by Matt Cutts.

Here is the video:

As you can see, the overall theme and feeling you get from Matt is that it is typically a bad idea.

So the next question I will hear is what about linking 18 sites, or 15 sites, or what about 10 or 5 sites together. I love those questions. Those asking those questions are linking the sites for one purpose, ranking.

Matt Cutts: 301 Redirects Dilute PageRank Equally To Normal Links - See more at: http://www.seroundtable.com/redirects-links-pagerank-16419.html#sthash.umEfJcPQ.dpuf

Filed Under Google Search Engine Optimization

Back about three years ago, we covered an interview between Google's Matt Cutts and Eric Enge of Stone Temple Consulting where we thought we learned that 301 Redirects Do Not Pass Full PageRank & Link Value.

The truth is, they do not pass full PageRank but nor does normal links, which we knew. The issue was, most people felt that 301 redirects pass LESS PageRank than normal links and that is not true.

Google's Matt Cutts posted a video yesterday saying:

The amount of PageRank that dissipates through a 301 is currently identical to the amount of PageRank that dissipates through a link.

So currently, there is no difference between a 301 and a link in terms of PageRank dilution.
That being said, if you have many redirects, like chains of them from one url to another to another, that is a known bad thing. But one or so won't hurt you.
Here is Matt's video:- 

This is one of those topics that is pretty cut and dry but as you ask more questions, with more variables in the mix, it can become a "what if" type of scenario that is not so cut and dry. Which is why we had the confusion in the first place, because Matt did not want to lead people on the first time - I guess?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld & Google+. & See more at: http://www.seroundtable.com/redirects-links-pagerank-16419.html#sthash.umEfJcPQ.dpuf

Webmasters Sending Link Modification Requests Due To Google Link Notifications

Filed Under Google Search Engine Optimization

A WebmasterWorld thread has one webmaster explaining he is now receiving emails from other webmasters to change how he links to them.

The issue is, Google is sending out messages about unnatural links and in response to that, webmasters are freaking out and emailing everyone and anything that links to them to change the link.

Heck, I've even received some asking me to either change the link or remove the link completely.

We even asked if someone can sue for linking to someone else? The issue now is that Google is sending a link wanring saying your site is being penalized, so there is more evidence showing a site linking to you is potentially causing financial damage to the site. So a lawsuit is not out of question.

Some are taking other approaches and charging a fee to remove links. I kid you not.

In the case at WebmasterWorld, this webmaster received an email from another webmaster saying:

         "We have been penalized for unnatural links, can you please change the anchor text of your links from "blaH to "bla blah".

I don't see how changing the anchor text will help, it is still an unnatural link. :)

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

Google: Google's Disavow Tool Won't Damage Others by Barry Schwartz Filed Under Google Search Engine Optimization

A WebmasterWorld thread links to a blog post on sno.pe about some questions he asked a Googler in regards to the Google disavow tool.

Google Search Quality engineer, Uli Lutzgave three bits of advice in regards to the disavow link tool:

(1) Focus on the links reported in the Google Webmaster Tools

(2) Do not worry about damaging other people, he said "that does not happen."

(3) Be aware of the site-wide disavow possibility, it will make your life easier. So don't be afraid to use the site-wide feature.

The most shocking is number two to me, that using the disavow link tool has no impact on the sites you are reporting. Wonder if we are misunderstanding that or if it is legit?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

Article copied from:http://www.seroundtable.com/google-disavow-tool-practices-16309.html