Are the paid links beneficial or not?

[nickgrnt]

I need to know that are those paid links really helpful for our web site? How does Google checks if its paid or not?

[Raymond]

Buying text links would be beneficial only for less time, but on a long term, it just makes loss as the site giving paid links is one or the other day penalized by Google for there work and the impact of this is forwarded to all sites in the network. So, never do any paid links work, just make natural link building.

[MattBarthorp]

As much as possible try to go for a natural link building process. Paid links would definitely fetch in traffic, but those links would only prove to be beneficial until you are paying for them.Whereas naturally built links would be there for ever.

Though this is my opinion. There must be someone here who have used both these techniques and might give a better picture.

[Merrick]

I think that the best links are not paid. Paid links are no way helping for page ranks. There are lot of legitimate ways to gain more links by getting reputation then why shall one pay? If you are paying for links and there is no one to click the link then what's the use of investing money to get links? We shall try getting links manually.

[Ryan]

Buying text links would be beneficial only for less time, but on a long term, it just makes loss as the site giving paid links is one or the other day penalized by Google for there work and the impact of this is forwarded to all sites in the network.

Can you provide an instance where sites have been penalized for buying and selling links ? And how does Google differentiate between natural links and paid links ?

I think that the best links are not paid. Paid links are no way helping for page ranks.

As far as I know, PageRank calculation is based on number of incoming links to a website, irrespective of whether they are paid or natural. So it comes down to the same question, how does Google detect paid links and denies any PageRank benefits to websites involved in such activities ?

[Josh]

IMO, no.

There's a link in the Google Webmaster Centre where you can report paid links, which Google will then most probably take action against.

[Macdale]

Paid links are very much useful, in case when you don't want to waste time to do the off-page activities. But ensure that the link sends traffic or else the link is of no use and stop paying them. One thing is for sure Paid links are much faster.

[Raymond]

Can you provide an instance where sites have been penalized for buying and selling links ? And how does Google differentiate between natural links and paid links ?

Yes... you can read the complete article here at: google webmaster guidelines for all terms.

[Macdale]

Can you provide an instance where sites have been penalized for buying and selling links ? And how does Google differentiate between natural links and paid links ?

Here is the proof, Google Reducing PageRank of Websites That Sell Paid Text Links - Digital Inspiration

As said by Matt Cutts, text links should be only use for getting traffic for other sites and not to increase PR.

[JohnLee]

I don't think that paid link can create much difference. How can an SE detect i the link is paid or not? Is there any tool to detect the nature of the links?

[harry]

IMO, usually external links for other websites located in footer or sidebar or under " Sponsor links " sections can be considered as PAID links as they are the most preferred places for posting PAID links
There are instances were few directories were banned by Google as they where into such link selling business.

[Sean]

But it is still not easy for SE to go through an anchor text.

[jakson0100]

Paid links work because it will give you back links, especially from high page ranking website.

[cranzi]

I still prefer a mix of both, sometimes I want quick traffic to my site (say for a promo going on) and other times I just want the links backed up for an extra boost. I still concentrate for more of a natural way to go but still, in a pinch paid ones do work.

[jpster]

Paid links work and work well but there are a few catches.

If you are going to buy a link just be sure the site your buying off is related to your site, i.e don't buy a link from a travel site if you site is about ducks.. getting links from another duck site is much better.

Also, if you are going to buy go for the best link possible.. it may cost a lot of money but the better authorty a site has the more it will help your site.

Another thing to look for is in-content links.. rather than being placed in a "sponsore or Link section" in content links will carry a lot more weight.

If you can't afford to pay for the big links there are plenty of other ways to get some good quality links.. there are quite a few 'webmaster' forums around where people offer link building solutions.. some good and some bad but thats for you to find out

As for Google disliking paid links.. yes they do but they can't tell a paid link from a natural one.. they will spot link spam though (getting a few hundred links quickly for example) so always best to build the links slowly to avoid detection