John Mueller from Google Provides Insights on Approaches to Paid Guest Posts That Align with Google’s Guidelines
During a recent discussion, John Mueller from Google shared valuable insights regarding the appropriate methods for engaging in paid guest posting, offering guidance that aligns with Google’s expectations and requirements.
The Evolving Landscape of Guest Posts in Recent History
Guest posting, whether compensated or not, is an age-old strategy akin to a well-squeezed lemon with minimal “link juice” to offer. In 2014, Google’s Matt Cutts penned a blog post declaring the practice over, effectively telling SEO professionals to “stick a fork in it.”
Shortly after, Google implemented penalties on guest blogging platforms and individuals, even going so far as to penalize a website belonging to an SEO practitioner who had only published five guest posts.
Today, Google has shifted away from imposing penalties as rigorously as it did in the past. Instead, it opts to block the passage of PageRank through these links. This, in turn, makes it challenging to gauge the effectiveness of a link.
Consequently, many continue to engage in guest posting because the immediate penalty feedback is less prevalent.
Google’s John Mueller Discusses Paid Guest Posts
During a Google SEO Office Hours session, a participant shared their experience, mentioning that every website they approached for guest posting demanded payment. They sought clarification on whether paying for a guest post violated Google’s policies, particularly when the paid guest post was deemed to be “valuable content.”
Here is the question and answer provided:
Question: “Most websites only offer the option to purchase a ‘guest post’ (to gain a backlink) from them nowadays. Is this against Google’s guidelines if I’m writing valuable content?”
John Mueller’s Response: “It sounds like you’re already on the right track. Yes, using guest posts for links is against our spam policies. In particular, these links must be qualified in a way that signals they don’t affect search results. You can do this with the rel=nofollow or rel=sponsored attributes on links. Using advertising to promote your site is fine, but the links should be blocked, as mentioned.”
Paid Guest Posts: A Form of Advertising
John Mueller highlights a crucial point – that paid guest posts should be recognized as advertising.
Indeed, Google views paid guest posts with embedded links as advertisements. The significance of this perspective lies in the fact that failing to clearly label advertisements not only misguides readers but may also infringe upon laws designed to prevent deceptive advertising practices.
The legality of such practices can be pretty nuanced, and it’s advisable to consult with legal counsel for a definitive assessment. For additional guidance on labeling advertisements, one can refer to the guidelines provided by the United States Government’s Federal Trade Commission regarding Native Advertising. These guidelines offer valuable insights into what should be appropriately marked as an advertisement.
The Value of Paid Guest Posts When Executed Correctly
Guest posting can be an effective advertising tool, provided the embedded links are appropriately designated with the “nofollow” link attribute.
Promoting a website or enhancing the visibility of products and services is a challenge in achieving online success.
Paid guest posts offer a beneficial and cost-effective way to promote a website; however, better link-building approaches may exist.
Consider exploring our monthly SEO packages if you still need help with challenges and confusion. Our team of experts is here to manage everything for you.
