How does Google differentiate between PBN and a Partner website network?

[galaxyduo]

So I just watched this Matt Cutts video from 2014 on cross linking between partner websites:

A partner website is like ebay.com linking to ebay.co.uk. As per the video, according to Matt Cutts, if you cross link 3 to 5 of your partner websites (such that you form a partner website network), it is probably acceptable by Google. But according to Matt Cutts in this video, if you have 30 partner websites and you crosslink all of them,then you may get penalized. While this video is from 2014, I assume that a lot of the original code in Google's algorithm for handling partner website networks and PBNs today is still similar to 5 years ago.

So it got me thinking. What is really different between a PBN and a partner website network? By PBN, I mean a real private network where only you use the network (it's private to you only) and it's not open to anybody else to use. And I know in the video that the example Matt Cutts uses is that all the sites in the partner website network have similar domain names (ie. ebay.com and ebay.co.uk) but there are still a lot of partner website networks where the domain names are very different for each website but yet Google has not penalized these partner website networks.

Now a key difference between a properly setup PBN and a partner website network is that a properly setup PBN will leave no footprints, while a partner website network will leave a lot of footprints (it's normal for a partner website network to have a lot of footprints because the owner probably uses the same registar, same CMS, same registration information, etc). If you think of it, a partner website network is like a poorly setup PBN with footprints all over.

If we use the information from Matt Cutts in the video above, I would think that if your PBN has only 3 to 5 sites, even if you are sloppy with your footprints, Google probably won't penalize your small PBN network. Because if Google isn't penalizing small partner website networks with very obvious footprints, why would they penalize a small PBN network? I am thinking that if your PBN starts to get large (ie. 30 sites), and Google can figure out all the sites belong to the same network, that is when Google will penalize the network.

What are your thoughts on this? Is my thinking correct on this?

 

[bobsmithJR]

noone replied to this yet?

i need the answer to this also please........ i have an incomplete "PBN" with slopping footprints (a Public Blog Network with ~30 domains), the only thing missing now is to add the links to all of their footers. i tried this before, and it worked with no penalties (for about 2-3 weeks), until a person told me that this is a bad idea, and that im actually building a "PBN". so after learning about what is a PBN, i removed all the links just in case, and now my domain rating is much lower

can i add the links back to my "PBN"? or will google give me a penalty? (even if all the domains are on the same server, and have the same company logo on them, is that still a "PBN" or is that a "Partner Website Network" ?)

im so confused, i dont want to make google mad at me

 

[splishsplash]

So I just watched this Matt Cutts video from 2014 on cross linking between partner websites:

A partner website is like ebay.com linking to ebay.co.uk. As per the video, according to Matt Cutts, if you cross link 3 to 5 of your partner websites (such that you form a partner website network), it is probably acceptable by Google. But according to Matt Cutts in this video, if you have 30 partner websites and you crosslink all of them,then you may get penalized. While this video is from 2014, I assume that a lot of the original code in Google's algorithm for handling partner website networks and PBNs today is still similar to 5 years ago.

So it got me thinking. What is really different between a PBN and a partner website network? By PBN, I mean a real private network where only you use the network (it's private to you only) and it's not open to anybody else to use. And I know in the video that the example Matt Cutts uses is that all the sites in the partner website network have similar domain names (ie. ebay.com and ebay.co.uk) but there are still a lot of partner website networks where the domain names are very different for each website but yet Google has not penalized these partner website networks.

Now a key difference between a properly setup PBN and a partner website network is that a properly setup PBN will leave no footprints, while a partner website network will leave a lot of footprints (it's normal for a partner website network to have a lot of footprints because the owner probably uses the same registar, same CMS, same registration information, etc). If you think of it, a partner website network is like a poorly setup PBN with footprints all over.

If we use the information from Matt Cutts in the video above, I would think that if your PBN has only 3 to 5 sites, even if you are sloppy with your footprints, Google probably won't penalize your small PBN network. Because if Google isn't penalizing small partner website networks with very obvious footprints, why would they penalize a small PBN network? I am thinking that if your PBN starts to get large (ie. 30 sites), and Google can figure out all the sites belong to the same network, that is when Google will penalize the network.

What are your thoughts on this? Is my thinking correct on this?

Because a pbn just looks like regular blogs. Partner sites are linking to each other. Pbns are not.

 

[bobsmithJR]

Because a pbn just looks like regular blogs. Partner sites are linking to each other. Pbns are not.

i see.. so is a "Partner Network" ok, or will google think it's a "PBN"?

also... if "PBN" sites dont link to each other, how will google know that it's a PBN? isn't it much harder for google to find PBNs and give them penalties instead of just giving penalties to "Partner Networks" aka poorly setup PBNs..

also...... is 30 domains too much? and what happens if the "main" site doesn't link to any of them. but instead all of the other sites link to the "main" site only. is that still a "Partner Network?" or is that a poorly setup spammy "PBN" (even if all of the domains have the same logo and company name and dont have any malware or popups and viruses and the design is ok, but they just only dont have much traffic or rating or anything...)

 

[splishsplash]

i see.. so is a "Partner Network" ok, or will google think it's a "PBN"?

also... if "PBN" sites dont link to each other, how will google know that it's a PBN? isn't it much harder for google to find PBNs and give them penalties instead of just giving penalties to "Partner Networks" aka poorly setup PBNs..

also...... is 30 domains too much? and what happens if the "main" site doesn't link to any of them. but instead all of the other sites link to the "main" site only. is that still a "Partner Network?" or is that a poorly setup spammy "PBN" (even if all of the domains have the same logo and company name and dont have any malware or popups and viruses and the design is ok, but they just only dont have much traffic or rating or anything...)

You're over thinking things hugely here.

A partner network is very unlikely to apply to you.

Have you got 4-5 high level websites all ranking and making money? If so, that's a potential partner network.

If you don't, then don't worry about it.

 

[bobsmithJR]

You're over thinking things hugely here.

A partner network is very unlikely to apply to you.

Have you got 4-5 high level websites all ranking and making money? If so, that's a potential partner network.

If you don't, then don't worry about it.

so, basicly you dont know the answers to any of these questions...

ill just wait for a different person to reply.

what do you mean dont worry about it? thats the whole point, to find out if google will think that my 30 domain "PBN" is actually a "PBN"...

you look like a retard who doesn't know anything about PBNs, and just goes to this site pretending to be smart.

your replies didn't answer even one of my simple questions...

 

[splishsplash]

so, basicly you dont know the answers to any of these questions...

ill just wait for a different person to reply.

what do you mean dont worry about it? thats the whole point, to find out if google will think that my 30 domain "PBN" is actually a "PBN"...

you look like a retard who doesn't know anything about PBNs, and just goes to this site pretending to be smart.

your replies didn't answer even one of my simple questions...

That's funny. I've built over 2000 pbns in the past 5 years, and at this very moment I am doing a design for one of my pbns on my other monitor.

I've built 3 pbns *today*. lol!

You're asking really silly questions about partner networks. You don't have a partner network. A partner network has nothing to do with a pbn.

There are countless good guides on the forum that teach you how to build a pbn. You're asking about linking them together, linking to the main site. Rather than just go and read a guide about pbns then setting them up, you're over-thinking things like "partner networks". I was trying to get you to get out of the "information overload" mentality and just focus on the task at hand, learn the exact things you need to do and go do it. This is why there are people who have spent literally 10 years on this forum reading stuff and worrying about every possible permutation and never actually done anything.

You cannot have 30 sites on the same server, with the same logo pretending to be the same company and then add footer links in them all. This is not a partner network.

A partner network is if you are hearst media and own cosmopolitan, wayfair, esquire, elle, country living, delish and more, and you want to link them together. A partner network consists of REAL, established authority sites.

Ie, stop over-thinking it. Go and read a guide on how to build a pbn, and just do it like everyone else.

P.S. I loved your comment about me being a retard just here to look smart. I really almost fell off my chair. I've not had someone accuse me of that one before.

 

[bobsmithJR]

That's funny. I've built over 2000 pbns in the past 5 years, and at this very moment I am doing a design for one of my pbns on my other monitor.

I've built 3 pbns *today*. lol!

You're asking really silly questions about partner networks. You don't have a partner network. A partner network has nothing to do with a pbn.

There are countless good guides on the forum that teach you how to build a pbn. You're asking about linking them together, linking to the main site. Rather than just go and read a guide about pbns then setting them up, you're over-thinking things like "partner networks". I was trying to get you to get out of the "information overload" mentality and just focus on the task at hand, learn the exact things you need to do and go do it. This is why there are people who have spent literally 10 years on this forum reading stuff and worrying about every possible permutation and never actually done anything.

You cannot have 30 sites on the same server, with the same logo pretending to be the same company and then add footer links in them all. This is not a partner network.

A partner network is if you are hearst media and own cosmopolitan, wayfair, esquire, elle, country living, delish and more, and you want to link them together. A partner network consists of REAL, established authority sites.

Ie, stop over-thinking it. Go and read a guide on how to build a pbn, and just do it like everyone else.

P.S. I loved your comment about me being a retard just here to look smart. I really almost fell off my chair. I've not had someone accuse me of that one before.

oh ok i see, thx, sory about calling u a retard then, can i please find out then why is my "PBN" not a "Partner Network"?

for example:

COMPANY.com
COMPANYnewyork.com
COMPANYchina.com
COMPANYafrica.com

those are all located on the same server. but are not linked to each other. will google give me a penalty if i add a link to the main "COMPANY.com" website?

Because it's not actually a "PBN", since it's not "Private", isn't this more like a "Partner Network"? (even though it's not a "Partner Network" either since it's actually the same company, but has many domains for different locations..... so what is it? and what will google do about it?)

 

[Index Sites]

oh ok i see, thx, sory about calling u a retard then, can i please find out then why is my "PBN" not a "Partner Network"?

for example:

COMPANY.com
COMPANYnewyork.com
COMPANYchina.com
COMPANYafrica.com

those are all located on the same server. but are not linked to each other. will google give me a penalty if i add a link to the main "COMPANY.com" website?

Because it's not actually a "PBN", since it's not "Private", isn't this more like a "Partner Network"? (even though it's not a "Partner Network" either since it's actually the same company, but has many domains for different locations..... so what is it? and what will google do about it?)

This is hilarious I need you to seriously take a step back and look at what he said and look at what you sent

Him: This is why there are people who have spent literally 10 years on this forum reading stuff and worrying about every possible permutation and never actually done anything.

You: Because it's not actually a "PBN", since it's not "Private", isn't this more like a "Partner Network"? (even though it's not a "Partner Network" either since it's actually the same company, but has many domains for different locations..... so what is it? and what will google do about it?)

Him: A partner network consists of REAL, established authority sites.

You: Because it's not actually a "PBN", since it's not "Private", isn't this more like a "Partner Network"? (even though it's not a "Partner Network" either since it's actually the same company, but has many domains for different locations..... so what is it? and what will google do about it?)

Him: There are countless good guides on the forum that teach you how to build a pbn. You're asking about linking them together, linking to the main site. Rather than just go and read a guide about pbns

You: oh ok i see, thx, sory about calling u a retard then, can i please find out then why is my "PBN" not a "Partner Network"?

Do you see no problem here?

 

[Index Sites]

stfu loser. no one is talking to you, all you do is copy and paste words, you didnt even read or understand my question, and you dont know even how to answer it.

i dont see any problem here, i only see retards

Good-luck lol

 

[splishsplash]

oh ok i see, thx, sory about calling u a retard then, can i please find out then why is my "PBN" not a "Partner Network"?

for example:

COMPANY.com
COMPANYnewyork.com
COMPANYchina.com
COMPANYafrica.com

those are all located on the same server. but are not linked to each other. will google give me a penalty if i add a link to the main "COMPANY.com" website?

Because it's not actually a "PBN", since it's not "Private", isn't this more like a "Partner Network"? (even though it's not a "Partner Network" either since it's actually the same company, but has many domains for different locations..... so what is it? and what will google do about it?)

Hehe, no problem, buddy. It really did make me laugh Especially because on my middle monitor I'm building a pbn, then I open your thread on my left monitor to read the reply!

I understand a bit more about what your conundrum, however, what are these domains on the same server? Are they actual real sites, or are these expired domains you've acquired?

If they are real, established sites, all with a legitimate connection with each other, then you would get away with being classified as a partner network if it's just 4-5 of them.

BUT, if they are not linking to each other, then they're not really a partner network. It's just a bunch of sites that are going to all link to ONE site. So what you end up with is a shoddy pbn.

And also, even if you did have 30 real sites, that were a legitimate partner network, you wouldn't really just take 30 of those and link them all to 1 site. You might get away with that if you've got 30 mega authority sites, but even then you're pushing the boundary.

It's really just down to the discretion of the manual reviewer. If it looks like you're artificially trying to pump up 1 site they'll penalize you. A partner network is where the sites are just linking to each other. Not 1 whole group of them, ONLY linking to 1 other site.

Why have you got 30 sites here like this? What are they? If expired domains then why have you got them all on the 1 server.

 

[bobsmithJR]

Hehe, no problem, buddy. It really did make me laugh Especially because on my middle monitor I'm building a pbn, then I open your thread on my left monitor to read the reply!

I understand a bit more about what your conundrum, however, what are these domains on the same server? Are they actual real sites, or are these expired domains you've acquired?

If they are real, established sites, all with a legitimate connection with each other, then you would get away with being classified as a partner network if it's just 4-5 of them.

BUT, if they are not linking to each other, then they're not really a partner network. It's just a bunch of sites that are going to all link to ONE site. So what you end up with is a shoddy pbn.

And also, even if you did have 30 real sites, that were a legitimate partner network, you wouldn't really just take 30 of those and link them all to 1 site. You might get away with that if you've got 30 mega authority sites, but even then you're pushing the boundary.

It's really just down to the discretion of the manual reviewer. If it looks like you're artificially trying to pump up 1 site they'll penalize you. A partner network is where the sites are just linking to each other. Not 1 whole group of them, ONLY linking to 1 other site.

Why have you got 30 sites here like this? What are they? If expired domains then why have you got them all on the 1 server.

lqtm, ok thx.

but how come it needs to be only 4-5 of them? why is 30 too much, they are all real websites just with a different location like "COMPANYnewyork.com" etc...

what if i need a website in every city in the world, can't i just have 300+ websites with different locations? google will understand no?

 

[splishsplash]

lqtm, ok thx.

but how come it needs to be only 4-5 of them? why is 30 too much, they are all real websites just with a different location like "COMPANYnewyork.com" etc...

what if i need a website in every city in the world, can't i just have 300+ websites with different locations? google will understand no?

Those 300 websites wouldn't have juice. This is why I'm saying you are hugely over-thinking this. If you get 300 expired domains, that's a pbn.

If you get 300 fresh domains, it's just a waste of time and money. You would build 1 authority site that targets 300 cities, not 300 city domains.

 

[bobsmithJR]

Those 300 websites wouldn't have juice. This is why I'm saying you are hugely over-thinking this. If you get 300 expired domains, that's a pbn.

If you get 300 fresh domains, it's just a waste of time and money. You would build 1 authority site that targets 300 cities, not 300 city domains.

these domains are not so new, they are a few years old, but are all low ranking,

if i add a link on all of them pointing to the main site, the 'page rank' of the main site increases from 18 to 54.

but i just wanted to find out, if google will eventually find out that i shouldn't do that because it looks kind of like a spammy "PBN"

or it's ok, because it's not actually a "PBN"

 

[splishsplash]

these domains are not so new, they are a few years old, but are all low ranking,

if i add a link on all of them pointing to the main site, the 'page rank' of the main site increases from 18 to 54.

but i just wanted to find out, if google will eventually find out that i shouldn't do that because it looks kind of like a spammy "PBN"

or it's ok, because it's not actually a "PBN"

It's a bad idea.

 

[bobsmithJR]

It's a bad idea.

hmm.

so then what should i do with all of these domains?

i think it's a bad idea to just leave them all unlinked

if i remove all the content and move it to the main site, and then redirect all the domains to the main site, there is no point also since it has no effect on SEO right?

it just looks like a waste having all of domains and not adding a link

why will google give me a penalty

it's not a PBN, google only gives penalties to PBNs right?

 

[Unreliable Witness]

it's not a PBN, google only gives penalties to PBNs right?

There are penalties, and there is algorithmic filtering, where Google pushes you down in the SERPs instead of banning your sites outright.

Penalties generally are given after a human review. There are a number of human reviewers, but there aren't many of them compared to the number of websites. So humans seem to look at only the most spammy websites.

Google would probably prefer not to pay humans, and instead seems to be moving to evaluate sites through the algorithm only.

So an algorithmic filter is much more likely.

You have to remember that Google is a robot applying broad measures to websites. If your websites tick too many potential spam indicators then it will demote you in the SERPs, whether you are using a PBN or not.

In other words, Google doesn't look for PBNs. It looks for things that have many properties in common with spam.

Sp you shouldn't be worrying about whether your sites look like a PBN. You need to worry about whether what you're doing looks low quality. That's why most people who are serious about using PBNs tell you to build them and treat them like money sites.

 

[bobsmithJR]

h t t p s : / / imgur . com /a/YyZhgg5

 

[splishsplash]

hmm.

so then what should i do with all of these domains?

i think it's a bad idea to just leave them all unlinked

if i remove all the content and move it to the main site, and then redirect all the domains to the main site, there is no point also since it has no effect on SEO right?

it just looks like a waste having all of domains and not adding a link

why will google give me a penalty

it's not a PBN, google only gives penalties to PBNs right?

Google gives penalties to whoever they hell they feel like. You could build the most whitehat site on the planet with your goal to help little old ladies cross the road, but google will still slap a big fat penalty and ignore you.

 

[SEOMet]

You can consider it a content issue.

The example you cited, Ebay has different partner websites which all have a different function (serve different countries) that is engaged by users.

99% of, let's call them "penalizable PBNs", are generally full of useless content that is written exclusively for Google bots. There is no real use for that content and there is no real use for any of the links built to it, or between sites of the network.

I think it's completely normal that google tries to render them useless, and like it or not, it would be great for the common good if they did.

If they still work, is only because Google hasn't mastered their algorithm yet for discriminating useful content from useless content. Who knows when we'll get there, that's up for everyone to guess about.