Best SES Session – Are Paid Links Evil?

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 by Andy Beal

Best SES Session – Are Paid Links Evil?

We’re only half-way through SES San Jose but I think we’ve already seen the best panel discussion of the event.

“Are Paid Links Evil” saw Matt Cutts go head to head with Greg Boser, Michael Gray, Todd Malicoat, Todd Friesen and Andy Baio.

The room was packed with marketers all hoping the session would live up to the hype of its carefully crafted title – “session bait” anyone?

We weren’t disappointed and the panel did a fantastic job of discussing such a heated topic. I’m not going to go through the session blow-by-blow because Lisa Barone, Tamar Weinberg, and Rand Fishkin all took fantastic notes.

I encourage you to read the notes and digest the information. Like me, you’ll probably come to the conclusion that buying select links from highly relevant pages isn’t going to get you into trouble with Google. Buying tons of spammy, non-relevant, run of site links, probably will.

Lastly, Rentvine–in a brilliant piece of linkbait–created a video parody of how the panel should have gone.

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8 comments on “Best SES Session – Are Paid Links Evil?”

Dave Dugdale Says:

August 22nd, 2007 at 1:10 pm

Andy thanks for including my video – I had fun making that and I was floored when I heard they played in front of the audience!

Does anyone know how I can change the YouTube video so the image clip appears in the player? I don’t have that much experience with YouTube.

Dave
Will The FTC Investigate Google & Matt Cutts For Paid Links? | Andy Beard - Niche Marketing Says:

August 22nd, 2007 at 2:34 pm

[...] Beal sums up this SES session I encourage you to read the notes and digest the information. Like me, you’ll probably come to [...]
Jeff "Big Slick" Says:

August 23rd, 2007 at 10:10 am

Everything is evil…little kittens, fresh fallen snow…balloons…the love of a child…all evil…evil I tell you…
Jimmy Daniels » Webmaster Stuff Says:

August 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 am

[...] Best SES Session – Are Paid Links Evil? We’re only half-way through SES San Jose but I think we’ve already seen the best panel discussion of the event. [...]
Matt Cutts Attacks Graywolf After SES Session | An Internet Consultant Speaks | Scott Hendison Says:

August 23rd, 2007 at 7:13 pm

[...] what was undoubtedly the best SES session I attended, Matt Cutts was caught on camera physically expressing his feelings about the way he was [...]
Are Paid Links Evil? Says:

August 26th, 2007 at 11:11 pm

[...] Andy Beal’s take on Are Paid Links Evil [...]
SES 2007: Are Paid Links Evil? Says:

August 29th, 2007 at 9:28 am

[...] Andy Beal and his two cents on paid links [...]
Considering buying links - Watch Monty Python first. Says:

November 15th, 2007 at 11:17 pm

[...] TLA can buy adwords ads – even though Matt Cutts indicated that was a bit fishy during the “Are Paid Links Evil” session at SES San [...]

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