Outbound Affiliate Links - Positive or Negative Effect

[philipjterry]

Hello

I would like to increase the value of my value proposition to users by adding complimentor affiliate links and embedded widgets like postcode search to my promote my affiliate's service.

I already have a great ranking....

Am I jeopardizing my position by putting outbound links to affiliate sites? Also would a nofollow tag on an affiliate link work?

I understand Google is fast changing - so what is the latest advice on this for Spring 2011?

Thanks a lot

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Philip,

I would hold fire until Google Panda has been rolled out as there are many unknowns about which sites are being hit right now. There are affiliate sites in the US that have taken a nose dive, so for the sake of a few weeks, hold onto what you have and then review again when we all know more.

Regards,

Andy

[Dan-Petrovic]

All in moderation. Google always says "do what's best for your users" but I would stick to a single affiliate link per page to be safe if this was my website. Nofollow is a good way to link to sites you don't trust and I would say it would be applicable to affiliate sites.

[TellThemEverything]

Isn't it a bit of an contradiction to link to sites you don't trust enough with a followed link? If you are doing it for the users benefit a followed link is best almost all the time.

I would focus on adding truly valuable links, and follow them

[philipjterry]

Thanks a lot for the valuable advice - looks as though the risk reward ratio does not stack up in my favor just yet. I'm definitely going to hold fire until the Panda update has stabilized even though I am sure I would be benefiting the users.........