Links From The Wrong Side Of The Tracks Options

[houndog]

Hi,
I'm putting this question in this category b/c I'm worried about links (among other things, but links is the question at for this post). There is a website that offers free samples for newsletter signups. This was probably a bad idea, since the site just got picked up by free stuff type websites, which launched traffic and signups into the thousands. In this case, this website had legit intensions, but the power of free stuff may bring the wrong people.

My fear is that these free website that are now all referalls, about 20 of them, may be considered junk websites by Google, and thus downgrade the website in question. From Jill's last newsletter or the article she referred to in it, it sounded like a legit site could suffer from guilt by association with link farm type websites.

Am I right to worry here? And suggest a new strategy that does not involve free things?

[Jill]

You only need to worry about that sort of thing if you don't have any true votes (links) to your site. As long as real people like your site and are linking to it, the bad links shouldn't be able to hurt you.

[amabaie]

Perhaps I am missing something...what's so bad about sites that list free stuff avaialble on the web?

[houndog]

Perhaps I am missing something...what's so bad about sites that list free stuff avaialble on the web?

Nothing...I just get nervous about sudden surges, and the fact that when one free stuff website linked to it, links from other free stuff websites spidered. Don't get me wrong - sudden surges are for the most part great. But from this sector, I just got nervous.

Thanks for your comments, Jill and Amabaie!

[dharrison]

Hi hounddog

If they're linking to you and not you to them, its not a problem.

From experience, I have a few porn sites that list to my website. You can't control who links to you (not without a headache).

HTH

[nethy]

Maybe I'm off track but are you refering to the wrong type of links or the wrong type of traffic.

The wrong type of links generally don't send traffic, never mind traffic that converts. If these sites are sending you visitors that convert.

The wrong type of visitor, is an entirely more complex issue. IE getting signups that will do anything as long as its free and lurk on free stuff sites & can be tempted by free samples are a 'segement'. I suppose what you (or your end client)are ultimately after is advertising to these subscribers. If you sell 'you pay for quality' products (like a recently endorsed subscription IM education site) or luxary products, this maybe the wrong traffic. But if you offer, clearance stock specials, other free 'hitch' offers etc. you may be hitting the nailon the head.

In many ways, determining motivation is the purpose of traditional marketing segemntation by demographics and such.

Now, as we (the IMs) are redifining segmentation, we need to use new 'segemnts' or find an upgraded concept. The point I am making is that you have a particular 'type' of permission gained via particular type of motivation. You already 'know' what motivation works on these people.