Google AdWords
In what I can only describe as a somewhat surprising move, Google has penalized yet another website for buying links: Google Japan. Matt Cutts was the first to mention it when he Twittered that Google.co.jp has seen a significant drop in PageRank, and it was later discussed in more detail over at Google Blogoscoped.
Apparently, the specific mistake that Google Japan made was to pay bloggers to review a new Google Widget. They have since apologized, and ended that particular promotion.
Of course, it’s not a penalty that’s likely to harm Google Japan. Google still shows up at #1 when you search for Google – and you’re not likely to search Google for Google anyway, are you? (My head is spinning a little at the thought, actually).
What it does seem to have achieved is to serve as a reminder that no, you are not supposed to buy or sell links. And, unsurprisingly, reignited the old arguments about that particular issue.
