I'm searching for relevant sites that I would like to link to me in the future (the site isn't built yet). If I were to buy banner spacew from them - does the fact that my banner links to my site count as a link or not?

Does it need to be more permanent to count as a useful link?

The site is relevant and I imagine it would be seen as an 'authority' site by the search engines.

Hope someone can set me straight here....

A banner linking to your site counts as a link to your site as long as the the link isn't using the "no follow" attribute. You need to be very careful if you are considering buying advertising space on another site as Google are apparently clamping down on this behaviour as they see it as unnatural link building.

If it's a high traffic site then it may still be worth while due to the traffic that might be passed along to you, but if you're doing it to increase your PR or SERPs placement then Google can just flick a switch at any time and negate any benefit so it could end up being a waste of money.

High quality one way unpaid links are the Holy Grail of link building and the most difficult to acquire. Review or product comparison sites can often be a good source of these sorts of links especially if the sites in question are focused on the same market that you trade in.

A link doesn't have to be permanent to count, but but helps if it is. All incoming links have some benefit, even those posted in forums and blog comments.

__________________
Lawrence

Cheers Lawrence.

I get the fact of some links being stronger, but hopw would a SE know that the link was coming from a banner rather than just natural linking.

As an example, if i was 'A Bank' and did a banner campaign on the FT website - it would be relevant and from a site deemed to be an authority.

Would this be seen as useful link and given the proportionate wieghting bearing in mind where it's coming from and the source?

Thanks,

James

That should be Ok because it would be a highly relevant link from a respected site that isn't just there to manipulate Google but is there for directed focused traffic too.

The whole system is in a state of flux regarding links (isn't it always?) This link examines some of the latest theories on the subject of the paid link directories. http://www.webpronews.com/insiderrep...irectory-links If the site isn't just there to provide links and the few links it does have are to other "quality" sites with related content then it should be ok, but you never know how things might change in a few months. It only takes a slight change in Google's algorithm to change the state of play.

__________________
Lawrence