Comments on: Paid Links on the BBC? http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paid-links-on-the-bbc-2 The Online Marketing People Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Top Furniture http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1243 Top Furniture Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:50:00 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1243 There is a lot of back scratching that goes on behind the scenes to get free links on high profile websites. Corporate entertainment in London is an easy way of getting some personal gain to someone or to a business without paying directly. The other main area is who you know and being in the right place at the right time. There is a lot of back scratching that goes on behind the scenes to get free links on high profile websites. Corporate entertainment in London is an easy way of getting some personal gain to someone or to a business without paying directly. The other main area is who you know and being in the right place at the right time.

]]> By: Ben Acheson http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1032 Ben Acheson Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:17:00 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1032 Incidentally, I've noticed this is still happening. I'm trying to find out who is selling these and will keep you posted here... Incidentally, I’ve noticed this is still happening. I’m trying to find out who is selling these and will keep you posted here…

]]> By: Simon Wharton http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1030 Simon Wharton Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:05:33 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1030 EM Comments, I see Betteridges law on Wikipedia is by Betteridge himself unless I am mistaken. Lovely piece of self promotion. But I understand the thrust of your argument. Having thought about it again, I'm still comfortable with the thrust of our post. Those links bore all the hall marks of paid links. The BBC states that they weren't paid for. I'm happy to accept that as a formal response. But any decent SEO is aware that the occasional £50 goes into the pocket of a content editor at major sites for sneaking in a quick link. Look at the properties of the links in question and the sites they point at: Commercial sites Questionable relevance Keyword rich anchor text. Certainly sufficient indicators to ask the question as to whether they were paid for. AS to the BBC kicking our arse, I would think that rather unlikely. We asked the question and got a clarification which we published in full. Following that response we clearly amended our article. Seems fair to me. Mr Keating, Oh you cynic you! I refer the honorable gentleman to my previous response regarding evidence. Next week we will be exposing how the BBC has decimated the Worlds Giant Panda population by Barbecuing them as snacks for David Attenborough. EM Comments, I see Betteridges law on Wikipedia is by Betteridge himself unless I am mistaken. Lovely piece of self promotion. But I understand the thrust of your argument. Having thought about it again, I’m still comfortable with the thrust of our post. Those links bore all the hall marks of paid links. The BBC states that they weren’t paid for. I’m happy to accept that as a formal response. But any decent SEO is aware that the occasional £50 goes into the pocket of a content editor at major sites for sneaking in a quick link. Look at the properties of the links in question and the sites they point at:
Commercial sites
Questionable relevance
Keyword rich anchor text.
Certainly sufficient indicators to ask the question as to whether they were paid for. AS to the BBC kicking our arse, I would think that rather unlikely. We asked the question and got a clarification which we published in full. Following that response we clearly amended our article. Seems fair to me.

Mr Keating, Oh you cynic you! I refer the honorable gentleman to my previous response regarding evidence.

Next week we will be exposing how the BBC has decimated the Worlds Giant Panda population by Barbecuing them as snacks for David Attenborough.

]]> By: Chris Keating http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1029 Chris Keating Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:34:33 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1029 Next time I want to build traffic to a blog, I'll accuse the BBC of doing something dodgy, regardless of whether I have any actual evidence. Then everyone will start talking about me! Great! Next time I want to build traffic to a blog, I’ll accuse the BBC of doing something dodgy, regardless of whether I have any actual evidence.

Then everyone will start talking about me! Great!

]]> By: James http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1028 James Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:06:23 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1028 Interesting post, I am sure that the BBC did not do it in bad faith, yet I understand where you are coming from with the content of these sites + the anchor text selection. The best thing is Lewis has come in and explained every thing so I think it seems fine =) Interesting post, I am sure that the BBC did not do it in bad faith, yet I understand where you are coming from with the content of these sites + the anchor text selection. The best thing is Lewis has come in and explained every thing so I think it seems fine =)

]]> By: Brendan http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1027 Brendan Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:01:15 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1027 Controversy? Damn right! After reading this, I decided to expand on it a little adding my own thoughts plus some rumblings I heard at the proSEO seminar in London late last year. Feel free to read - http://www.mancunianrepublik.com/paid-links-on-the-bbc-an-seo-controversy/ Controversy? Damn right! After reading this, I decided to expand on it a little adding my own thoughts plus some rumblings I heard at the proSEO seminar in London late last year. Feel free to read – http://www.mancunianrepublik.com/paid-links-on-the-bbc-an-seo-controversy/

]]> By: Paid links on the BBC - an SEO controversy | SEO Manchester Blog http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1026 Paid links on the BBC - an SEO controversy | SEO Manchester Blog Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:59:09 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1026 [...] (and link) has since been removed.Then, a few days ago, I read a post on the PushOn blog entitled Paid links on the BBC? It attracted quite a lot of attention, particularly from Lewis Wiltshire (Editor of the BBC Sport [...] [...] (and link) has since been removed.Then, a few days ago, I read a post on the PushOn blog entitled Paid links on the BBC? It attracted quite a lot of attention, particularly from Lewis Wiltshire (Editor of the BBC Sport [...]

]]> By: EMComments http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1025 EMComments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:53:11 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1025 @Simon you seem to have nicely met Betteridge's Law of Headlines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_Law_of_Headlines - wikipedia if links are not allowed) and following in the fine traditions of the Daily Mail. Lewis Wiltshire seems to be patiently offering you a way of not getting your arse kicked by the BBC and you seem incapable of taking it. Just change the article to make it clear that they don't sell links. It is just (a badly implemented in this case) service for their visitors. @Simon you seem to have nicely met Betteridge’s Law of Headlines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_Law_of_Headlines – wikipedia if links are not allowed) and following in the fine traditions of the Daily Mail.

Lewis Wiltshire seems to be patiently offering you a way of not getting your arse kicked by the BBC and you seem incapable of taking it. Just change the article to make it clear that they don’t sell links. It is just (a badly implemented in this case) service for their visitors.

]]> By: Peter Williams http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1024 Peter Williams Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:53:57 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1024 I would love to see how much traffic has been driven to the site because of this, who said it is a mistake? Everything is worth testing :-) I would love to see how much traffic has been driven to the site because of this, who said it is a mistake? Everything is worth testing :-)

]]> By: James Crawford http://www.pushon.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/paid-links-on-the-bbc-2/#comment-1023 James Crawford Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:34:07 +0000 http://blog.pushon.co.uk/?p=2429#comment-1023 I love the smell of controversy in the morning. Those links just look odd. I love the smell of controversy in the morning.

Those links just look odd.

]]>