Paid Link Backs?

[CalicoKitty2000]

I know I have read that Google doesn't give much value to paid link backs.  My company has worked with a charitable organization (marine research and conservation) in the past and we were considering a corporate donation to them.  My question is, would there be value in this from an SEO standpoint?  There are many many other company links listed on this page.  The area we would be listed would be towards the top of the page. Also, they have a really good DA, 71.  I don't believe I have many if any .org / charitable organizations in my link profile.  Thanks!

[ChrisAshton]

As with most things in SEO, a single link like this isn't going to land you in a penalty and honestly, it's more likely to do good than harm.

What you don't want to do is make a habit of this. If you're part of an organisation that has a membership fee and you get a link out of it, it's happy days. If you're just identifying strong sites and throwing money at them for a link that's a different story.

Many will make the logical case that search engines can't tell the difference and a link is a link but they're constantly getting better at understanding context and there are quite a few consistent factors that help them understand the legitimacy of a link. One of many of course being relevance.

[MoosaHemani]

Although Google didn’t really like Paid links but the method you explained sounds like a link against a donation with is a pretty decent activities to many within the industry.

This post by SEO Book tells you a little more about it: http://www.seobook.com/archives/001455.shtml

I personally do use this idea based on client’s link profile. I believe if your link profile is supported by other good links as well these links are only going to help instead of hurting you in most cases.

Just a Thought!

[TheZenAgency]

This doesn't sound like buying links to me but rather giving a donation and receiving a link as a by product as a charitable deed. Would be surprised if this didn't do you more good than harm as stated above.