So, what are people's thoughts on this? Any, more importantly, any studies or data?
Let's say you sell reputable widgets and "reputable widgets" is your keyword, and every site in the top 10 comes from the magical fairyland of whitehat tactics... they all have naturally-gained links from high PR sites, with 5% targeted anchor text. 10,000 exact search volume, $10 CPC.
Let's say you sell dodgy widgets and "dodgy widgets" is your keyword, and every site in the top 10 has 20 times as many links as the reputable widgets sites, on similar PR sites but more volume due to clever use of automated tools, with 30% targeted anchor text. 10,000 exact search volume, $10 CPC.
Would it be a different game ranking for reputable and dodgy widgets? ie would Google have increased suspicion if you had 20 times as many links as everyone else trying to rank for "reputable widgets" because you used "dodgy widgets" tactics? Or would you just rank top?
Let's say you sell reputable widgets and "reputable widgets" is your keyword, and every site in the top 10 comes from the magical fairyland of whitehat tactics... they all have naturally-gained links from high PR sites, with 5% targeted anchor text. 10,000 exact search volume, $10 CPC.
Let's say you sell dodgy widgets and "dodgy widgets" is your keyword, and every site in the top 10 has 20 times as many links as the reputable widgets sites, on similar PR sites but more volume due to clever use of automated tools, with 30% targeted anchor text. 10,000 exact search volume, $10 CPC.
Would it be a different game ranking for reputable and dodgy widgets? ie would Google have increased suspicion if you had 20 times as many links as everyone else trying to rank for "reputable widgets" because you used "dodgy widgets" tactics? Or would you just rank top?