PageRank For Sale -- part 3

Click here to go to Part 1 of this interview

PageRank link farms

Jono Craig: Another view I've observed is that some will admit a difference exists between selling links from a high PR site as opposed to the link farm scenario. Some SEO's though will label PR for sale concepts as PR farms, which without theme or topic relevant placement should possibly be avoided.

Robert Massa: I can't control what some SEO's might say. All I can tell you is that every one of them right now, wants higher link popularity. Anyone that tells you different is either a liar or a fool. Calling any system where only one link goes out without any links coming in a link farm either doesn't know what they are talking about or is a few steers short of a herd.

I've heard those statements as well, and the only thing I can figure is that survival threatened thing I mentioned earlier. It seems no matter how many times I explain the niche portal network or use the term niche portals, some seem convinced that I'm just throwing indiscriminate links to the wind and expecting my clients to keep paying me.

The hardest part of the job is matching up the ads with the proper Websites and even then the Webmaster has the right to reject the ad. These are not off topic or off theme ads. They go where they go for a reason and that reason is to establish a value for that specific portal's site regardless of what the PR does for a client.

I fully expect PageRank to be replaced at some point. As anyone who works with search engine technology on a daily basis like myself knows, there are some inherent problems with using PageRankas an algorithm. It's a very good system using available technology, but it's not perfect and as the technology progresses, PageRank will find it's proper place and I personally expect it's value to decrease.

The purpose of this network is to match advertisers with high quality Web sites so that a value can be established for something other than paying for every click on Overture or hiring expensive SEO's services. There is a tremendous market for PPC and SEO services and all I'm saying is that there is also a tremendous market for finding high quality niche sites that target your customer.

Finding them and negotiating a fair price is the only service that I offer. And the only reason I offer it is because:

#1 I believe it to be a service I can make a profit from
#2. I want people to continue building niche portals
#3. I believe they deserve to be paid fairly for their efforts
#4. I believe using PageRank‘ is a way to capture the interest of the advertisers at this point in time.

PR text ads and the SEO community

Jono Craig: As a SEO Consultant, my preference is to identify potential links that would primarily bring qualified or relevant traffic. Any associated PR benefit that results is an added benefit. This approach may mean a slower PR growth rate but it's safe and sure. In view of the frank questions I've asked you, how do you feel the SEO community could be 'sold' your service?

Robert Massa: SEO's represent only commercial interests. That means business. The whole concept of business is return on investment. If an SEO sees writing emails to a high PR site he doesn't know asking for a link to his low PR site for free and twiddling his thumbs waiting for a response as a good investment, they need to look again. If an SEO sees building content for a client for the purpose of getting good links without knowing first what criteria each link is looking for, that is not a good investment of time.

Maybe it doesn't have to be me, but someone, somewhere has to find a way to put this whole link popularity thing on a less mysterious level. A more professional level. A more businesslike level. The thing so many SEO's seem to be missing is that you don't pay for spam. When you pay money for a link and the Webmaster accepts that link, there is no theft, no hidden, cloaked, redirected anything. That isn't spam --- that's advertising!

Any SEO is hired to make his client money and the faster he can do that, the better service he provides. Just like any other businessman, an SEO only has so many hours in a day he can work with. He has to decide how to best use those hours.

Some will finally stop throwing such a hissy fit and go try to "buy" links on their own and avoid paying me or anyone else a broker's fee and feel like they got a bargain. Some will see the value in just charging their clients an additional fee and then paying a part of that fee to a specialized service to get the most out of that fee.

Hiring a professional specialized in a specific service has always made sense to some business people. If it didn't, there would be no SEO's. For either SEO, there will become an established, accepted value on niche directories and Websites. People will once again see a way of making money with topic specific sites and in the long run, we all win.

Jono Craig: Thank you, Robert for your time, I hope this interview provides you, the SEO community and Web marketers with more to work with. It''s certainly cast a new light on my viewpoint of this fresh development.

Robert Massa: We all have plenty to work with. My greatest hope is that we learn to work together as an industry to fulfil the promise of the net. I have told the truth even when it wasn't that easy. I realize that we all have the right to choose whom to believe and I also realize that what I say has very little impact on the way the world is going to turn. Still, I thank you for the opportunity to speak frankly.

Jono summarizes...

I believe PR for sale will be a tough sell to the SEO community and ultimately it's immediate growth as a market is likely to depend on how Webmasters and site owners respond. For the money required and the possible PR benefit, they may take the plunge.

A high PR has become a holy grail for some, taking on an almost magical quality. Some may view their competitor's Website PR and want to catch up or surpass it. They might be tempted not to follow a slower, methodical route.

I started off with a list of skeptical, cynical SEO relevant questions for Mr. Massa. My conclusion? I have to respect him for his honesty to make a living in a world just as tough as any SEO, Webmaster or site owner faces.

If anything, Robert Massa gained my respect for developing such a concept despite its controversy. We need to give credit where it';s due whether or not we use his service -- in the Internet universe; Robert has created a brave new world. I for one, wish him the best of luck with this interesting, fresh approach.

Article specific recommendations:

• Google Toolbar (be sure to enable the PR feature)
• PageRank‘ explained by Google
• The Handy Dandy Google PageRank Figurin' Guide
• Kartoo - useful for identifying related themes within Website neighborhoods.
• Measure Web page reputation (topic relevant)

The Pandia Post is our free bimonthly newsletter on Internet searching, search engines and directories.

We will give you the latest news from the world of Internet exploring, useful tips on how to improve your searching skills or search engine ranking, as well as information on the development of the Pandia Search Central.

We will never give your address to any other company or organization.