Terms of Service

[Santaur]

If a blog does product reviews and we give them a free product for a review is it breaking terms of service if we ask for a follow link for the product?

[KeriMorgret]

Google would frown on that, according to their content guidelines at http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66356.

The following are examples of link schemes which can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results:

• Buying or selling links that pass PageRank. This includes exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links; exchanging goods or services for links; or sending someone a “free” product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link

[NakulGoyal]

I agree with Keri. If you are doing it for branding or other advertising reasons, just have them include a rel="nofollow" inside the link. Also make sure the FTC disclosure is there.

I hope this helps.

[danatanseo]

I agree with Nakul and Keri.

I think there are probably a lot of folks here who don't have any idea about the FTC disclosure (and a lot that do). Could either one of you summarize its purpose and how to implement it properly?

[KeriMorgret]

Hi Santaur,

Did our responses answer your question, or would you like some more input?

[Houses]

Useful info on FTC http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ftc-2013-disclosures/