Hey Google Going to Drop the Paid Links Hammer on Coke? I’m not sure how sending someone a mini fridge knowing full well they are going to blog about it is any different than sending someone cash for link advertising. Then again you created the two tiered internet justice world we now live in, and I’m just a squirrel trying to get a nut.
Eventually though more people are going start using the tactic, so maybe you should get somebody coding a “report refrigerator” link to your webmaster central control panel 
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Nice catch !!
haha, nice one. I would suggest “report a swag”.
This adds nothing to the argument. Didn’t you point out similar “paid links” a few weeks ago and have the same argument shot down?
I personally think the Coke ploy was brilliant. I read these tactics on various SEO blogs. A big name pulls it off. The wolf cries…
I see nothing brilliant in it. Tactic with sending swag to popular blogers in order go get exposure is nothing new. It even works better in conjuction with a big brand like Coke.
They’re not giving the product on the basis they HAVE to post a link back to the site.
I think someone’s bitter that he didn’t get one.
@PooPeGifts: so we have to operate like the mob now? let’s say I was to hypothetically put this envelope of money on the table … and then maybe i was to get distracted see … and I forgot where I put it … then you know yous could let your conscience be your guide
@QualityGal: hey if you know someone giving out plasma screens …
It is true that Google’s algorithms are falling for swag influenced product endorsements currently. The way to patch the hole is simple, those who are easily bribed eventually lower their trust levels with paid posts that are not so under the radar.
Google understands the SEO art of linking (to influence search position) more than you might know. Make a few too many swag influenced posts from your blog and watch your traffic go back to zero and those pages go GRAYBAR!!!
Regardless of whether this constitutes ‘paid links’, they’ve gotten their product talked about and that was the original objective. I really doubt Coke is concerned about the ‘links’ more than just product awareness.
“report refrigerator” – LOL.
@10: Agreed, I doubt that Coke was salivating over nine backlinks. I can just hear the boardroom conversation: “No one has ever heard of us! How ever will we increase our backlinks? I know, let’s see if we can use mini-fridges to bribe some bloggers into adding links to our website–then we will surely begin to rank in Google!”
Clearly not the point. Now, selling your blog out to Coke seems like blog suicide to me (for a one-drink-sized fridge, even–come on, at least send them on a weekend B & B trip). I’d be willing to bet those nine bloggers probably lost some readers with that move, especially since they let Coke skin their blogs for the promotion. They likely lost a few more from the manifesto condemning their action.
I’ve done my good Google citizen’s duty and reported those 9 Brazilian bloggers for selling links. Their minus powerade penalty is on the way since Google is always 100% consistent with penalties.
This reminds of the time that Google sent me an adwords refrigerator, I blogged about it and linked to Google, and Google said, “Tsk, tsk. This amounts to a paid link. Put a nofollow tag on your link back to Google or we will knock you out of the SERPs.”
And yes, it is extremely irritating to hear idiots in the media talk about how innovative this marketing technique is. It’s innovative like putting an ice cube in a drink to make it colder is innovative.
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