What does Google say about SEO? /

Official statement

Links with the rel='sponsored' attribute do not help with SEO. They represent a financial or commercial exchange and are not considered natural links for PageRank. However, they can indirectly generate traffic and awareness, which may lead to natural links.
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

💬 EN 📅 18/12/2021 ✂ 27 statements
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📅
Official statement from (4 years ago)
TL;DR

Links with rel='sponsored' do not contribute to PageRank. They are commercial links, not natural ones. However, they can still drive traffic and potentially lead to organic links.

What you need to understand

What Exactly Are 'Sponsored' Links?"

Links with the rel='sponsored' attribute indicate a financial or commercial exchange. Google does not consider them as natural links used in the calculation of PageRank.

  • Commercial links.
  • Excluded from PageRank.

How Do They Fail to Support SEO?

Google distinguishes them from organic links because they do not reflect a natural vote of confidence for the content. PageRank relies on the quality of these votes, not on transactions.

However, these links can generate direct traffic, potentially bringing visitors who are likely to create natural links.

SEO Expert opinion

Is This Statement Consistent with Observed Practices?

In practice, links with rel='sponsored' show no direct effect on ranking. This is consistent with the latest SEO observations: Google prioritizes quality over quantity of links.

What Nuances Should Be Considered?

The indirect potential should not be overlooked. By attracting quality traffic, these links can generate trust signals.

Do not underestimate this potential if your SEO strategy is focused on brand awareness!

Are There Ambiguities in This Statement?

Google mentions the indirect effect of these links but remains vague about their actual impact. This remains to be verified with more field data.

Practical impact and recommendations

What Should You Actually Do?

Use rel='sponsored' links for commercial partnerships, but do not expect a direct SEO boost. Focus your efforts on creating quality content to obtain organic backlinks.

What Mistakes Should Be Avoided?

Do not rely solely on these links to improve your ranking. Consider them as a traffic vector, not an SEO drive.

How Can You Maximize the Indirect Impact?

Consider the quality of the traffic they bring. Target relevant audiences to maximize engagement.

  • Check the attribute on your commercial links.
  • Measure the traffic generated by these links.
  • Monitor opportunities for organic backlinks.
While they do not directly boost SEO, a well-planned strategy to leverage these links can pay off. Looking for personalized advice? A specialized SEO agency could be the key to optimizing your strategy.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Les liens sponsorisés peuvent-ils pénaliser mon site ?
Non, tant qu'ils sont marqués correctement avec rel='sponsored'.
Que faire si un lien sponsorisé est mal classé ?
Corrigez-le rapidement pour éviter toute confusion avec des liens naturels.
Dois-je privilégier les liens sponsorisés ?
Non, ils sont utiles pour le trafic ciblé, mais pour le SEO, les liens naturels sont essentiels.
🏷 Related Topics
Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

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