Offering discounts and getting backlinks - concerned.

[McTaggart]

Hiya Mozzers,

My client is about to offer discounts (to a few large multinationals... for staff) and there's every possibility these will appear on the web, with a backlink to my client's website (perhaps direct via websitest / via online newsletters and so on).

I am thinking of telling client to restrict the number of companies they interact with while I monitor backlinks in case there's some kind of problem with backlinks generated. I am also telling them on no account to ask for backlinks or encourage keyword rich links.

Any thoughts on this, anybody? Is there a risk of penalty or am I just being paranoid?

[dotfly]

You are not! Your thoughts about that issue are absolutely correct. I also would recommend that things like that should be done (if they have to be done!?) in a very moderate way!

Linkbuilding using campaigns that offer something (doesn`t matter what) when others create a link to your site is a kind of "buying links". Of course this is not an uncommon way to create links but Google will always take a closer look on how you do that - if this is done excessively the risk is high to get a penalty.

[McTaggart]

Thanks - it sure is confusing. I mean my background is in PR - and, for example, when I'm running a travel PR campaign I offer free accommodation in return for a review (and do not ask for links!). Of course that could be seen as linkbuilding too, though of course that's not the main focus or benefit (if the reviews are good, that is...).

[dotfly]

The problem is if google just only thinks it might be suspicious they will penalize the site and YOU have to prove that this is unjustified... it`s only a risk for a lot of trouble... keep campaigns like that small and as secret as possible...

better: never do things like that. If your site is good, links will be established automatically...

[McTaggart]

Yes, agreed - will ask for nofollows on backlinks as not doing this for SEO benefit anyway.