Do we still get penalized for buying links?

[pinno]

Hello all,
I read from somewhere that since their algorithm updates a few years ago, google has stopped penalize websites with purchased links, they just do not count whatever links they think are not natural. However on the other hand, whenever i ask about buying links, i almost always get warnings from people saying that it is dangerous to buy links and google will punish us for that etc. So, who is telling the truth here? Can someone please share? Thanks

 

[crissdinesh]

Say No to low quality links.

 

[umerjutt00]

Not sure where you heard the news from. If anything, Google have become more strict and better over the years.

 

[cannaseedusa]

How else will Google operate without the dependency of high ranking links?

 

[kapsoki]

I think you will be penalized if you buy links. But that does not mean you can't buy links. It depends on how you buy them.

 

[BHG]

If you don't do it carefully you will get penalized.

 

[pinno]

I am not entire sure but after reading these posts below, it looks like google is getting smarter and so smart so confident now that google believes they can tell apart the good links from the bad, and they will simply ignore the bad ones without penalizing the entire site. Did I get it wrong?


https://www.digivate.com/blog/seo/digital-marketing-roundup-12/

1. Google Penguin no longer penalizes for bad links

Google has announced the release of Penguin Update 4.0, a more granular version that runs in real time. From the new facts that this update has brought, we would like to highlight that Google Penguin is now ignoring/devaluing the bad links instead of penalising them and, in this way, the rankings are adjusted. So, is there a need to use the disavow file anymore? Google’s Gary Illyes has stated that there is less need to use the disavow file but it is still important since “you can help us help you by using it”. Therefore, you should now use the disavow file to help recover from Penguin issues. Finally, Gary has said that this update would make webmasters “happier”. We hope so too Gary!

https://www.semrush.com/blog/penguin-4-0-update-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

2. Google stated this update made Penguin “more granular”.

The exact language Google used to describe the granular nature of Penguin: “Penguin now devalues spam by adjusting ranking based on spam signals, rather than affecting ranking of the whole site.”

Some SEOs have theorized that the new Penguin algorithm might simply ignore spam links, rather than enforce a punitive measure. The Penguin algorithm would affect pages more than sites, by Google’s statement. This would largely defeat negative SEO, but also further obfuscate the effect of grey hat links designed to test and manipulate Penguin.

In short, I believe it will be extremely difficult to actually measure and understand the effect of manipulative links on the Penguin algorithm. Google tends to get better over time, and I believe that this new update will continue that trend.

https://searchengineland.com/google-penguin-doesnt-penalize-bad-links-259981

Google launched the real-time, more granular version of Penguin on Friday. Google wrote in its announcement that it “now devalues spam.”

Many SEOs and webmasters took that to mean that Penguin no longer penalizes – and it seems like they are right.

Google’s Gary Illyes said on my public Facebook post that the new Penguin algorithm “managed to devalue spam instead of demoting.” But he also said that Google’s recommendation for using the disavow file has not changed. In other words, you should use the disavow file to help recover from Penguin issues.

 

[blackbeans]

If you buy from sloppy sellers, yes you will get dinged.

 

[awesomewebsites]

You will get penalised only if the purchase is discovered by Google.

 

[pinno]

But google clearly says that they do NOT penalize anymore :

“Penguin now devalues spam by adjusting ranking based on spam signals, rather than affecting ranking of the whole site.”

"the new Penguin algorithm might simply ignore spam links, rather than enforce a punitive measure. The Penguin algorithm would affect pages more than sites, by Google’s statement"
​

It is hard to believe but...

​

 

[Badboy Enterprise]

Bad link = yes INSTA PEW

 

[Deleted member 813988]

If that's a 1-day old site that suddenly receives 1000s backlinks from low-quality sources - yes.

 

[terrycody]

Feel safe to purchase as many good backlinks as u wish, because you will not have the "enough" ability to get yourself penalized, reason: too small quantity.

But when u send thousands of low quality spam links to a small new website, in many cases, it just won't work, nothing will happen (in such a case like Google said they just ignore the spam links), but if u keep sending a ton ton ton of spam links everyday, u may result get unnatural links in your search console (or maybe still not! case to case).

(Google send 4 million notices in the search console in 2018, of course not all of those are "unnatural links" though)

 

[pinno]

Thanks to you all for sharing. IguessI buying links is not that bad any more just needs to be a bit careful. I just hate it when people keep threatening me every time i mention things related to buying back links. In fact, i have checked several sites i found, interestingly, those honest sites that own only like 100+ links often do not get much traffic. Those few that get crazy traffics? They clearly have thousands of back links clearly purchased somewhere. Perhaps about 10% of their back links are from real, reliable sources. It's unfair but apparently thats how it works.

 

[pinno]

I guess the answer to your question depends on from where exactly do you buy your links

Do you have any recommendations?

 

[Deleted member 1252779]

Hi! Yes Maybe still..

Feel safe to purchase as many good backlinks as u wish, because you will not have the "enough" ability to get yourself penalized, reason: too small quantity.

But when u send thousands of low quality spam links to a small new website, in many cases, it just won't work, nothing will happen (in such a case like Google said they just ignore the spam links), but if u keep sending a ton ton ton of spam links everyday, u may result get unnatural links in your search console (or maybe still not! case to case).

(Google send 4 million notices in the search console in 2018, of course not all of those are "unnatural links" though)

 

[Aty]

Do it wisely, under the radar, and you'll be fine.

 

[Calvin1994]

paid links or links from bad source on the web can hurt your site’s rankings in Google. We have independent testing evidence ..