Comments on: V7N Contextual Links – a First Impression Review

By: Anthony Cea

Anthony Cea — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:22:59 +0000

This is just one of the many John Scott scams over the years that include spamming Digital Point forums along with the owner of Aviva, buying signature links and avatars to advertise their “Google Killer” V7N contextual.

Too bad for John Scott that Google and the truth killed his grand scheme and major fraud, John was a master link farm promoter along with Aviva Directory, their fraudulent promotions of interlinked directories lead to Google banning many directories that were heavily promoted on Digital Point along with a guy named Mike Dammann (Blogmaster, SiteTutor, Firetown, BlogParty, FrogEngine, DirectoryContest, DirectoryConvention and a ton of other forum user names and link farms), John and Aviva hired this clown to promote their scams on Digital Point.

The real kicker is that John Scott suckered Lee Dodd out of 220 grand for that piece of crap link farm network and got out before anyone found out the real truth.

If Shawn Hogan of Digital Point was not such a censor (Shawn banned me for no real reason other than exposing his and Crazy Rob’s ineptitude), I would have exposed all these con men on Digital Point, but as we know, Shawn has a lot to hide and protects con men and allows them to defraud the webmaster community openly.

By: Ami | Affiliate Newbie Guide

Ami | Affiliate Newbie Guide — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:52:54 +0000

Just came across this post. It’s about 8 months on and there is now the -60 penalty for selling links. I wonder how programs like that reviewed above are doing now

Thanks, by the way. It is great to come across successful blogs that support ethical marketing. Shows that we don’t have to resort to scrapper sites and link farms to succeed in this business

By: mrrob

mrrob — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:55:25 +0000

Darren- I just came across V7 contextual links and was a bit skeptical myself. Glad I googled the key and found your site. I knew I’d find something of value here as I always do.

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:32:30 +0000

I have started asking questions about all this stuff on the v7n forum, as I have recently tried out the program and am already having ethical issues about not being able to disclose the fact that it’s paid blogging. So far, I’ve been able to put a snarky satirical spin on each post which is in context with my overall blog’s focus, but I am beginning to think this is not going to be good for my blog in the long run.

By: proxieslist.net

proxieslist.net — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:28:22 +0000

[...] Contextual Links – Another new advertising system for blogs that launched this week. It’s a cross between Text Link Ads and Pay Per Post, and is already receiving criticism. Since bloggers are paid to link to certain sites from their posts – and they’re not required to disclose that the link is paid for, the service raises some major ethical concerns, says Problogger. I tend to agree – in fact, getting paid for a link seems even more problematic that getting paid for a whole post. [...]

By: V7N | Adsense - Ethics and Money : Blog Archive Andy Beard

V7N | Adsense - Ethics and Money : Blog Archive Andy Beard — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:47:38 +0000

[...] Darren questions the ethics [...]

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:49:37 +0000

James – I don’t have a problem with 1 and 2 in isolation – but when you put it all together it just seems to clash with the way I blog and the way I see many bloggers blogging.

Also – check out this post where Aviva Directory blog claims to be a partner of John on the launch.

Tudor – the difference with TLA in my books are two fold:

1. The links appear on a sidebar and not in content where they can be confused with the blogger’s opinions and recommendations. For me content is about communicating a message, sharing information or providing useful things for my readers.

2. I use TLA with a ’sponsored links’ or ‘partners’ heading – something TLA encourage and don’t force me not to do.

IF V7N would even give me the option of acknowledging that links are paid I would have been more positive about it but – they are the only ad network that I know who force bloggers not to be transparent in this way. That’s the main issue I have.

By: Friday Tea Time » TheMadHat

Friday Tea Time » TheMadHat — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:37:35 +0000

[...] * Darren has posted an initial reaction to the controversial V7N Contextual Links Program. Matt Cutts also does a little fear mongering. I’ll probably be using it as an advertiser. And yes, I’m a little shifty. [...]

By: Tudor Mateescu

Tudor Mateescu — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:01:35 +0000

Darren you have a big banner with text-link-ads on this blog.
v7n in my point of view is doing the same like text-link-ads.. so what’s the problem? The problem is where the link is? In footer? in sidebar or in body? The footer and the sidebar are the ethical parts? :)

By: James Trotta

James Trotta — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:13:45 +0000

Sorry, one more thing. Can you check the accuracy of this statement: The author of Aviva is one of the people behind V7N?

I know the owner does business with v7n but I don’t think he’s part owner or anything like that.

By: James Trotta

James Trotta — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:10:50 +0000

I understand (but don’t share) your concern with #3, but why would 1 and 2 be concerns?

1.From what I read, the posts don’t need to be new ones that you insert links into. As long as they are on a blog with a PR of over 3 and on the industry that the link is about they seem to be fine.

(I do believe they check Alexa rank and the quality of the blogs in the program. Only an amateur would go on PR alone)

2. Bloggers are not required to (or encouraged to) write directly about the advertiser they are linking

3. Bloggers are not allowed to disclose that the link is paid for.

By: Top Search Stories Of The Past Week, Ending 26 January 2007

Top Search Stories Of The Past Week, Ending 26 January 2007 — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:04:53 +0000

[...] Paid links – what is a paid link? What isn’t a paid link? The old debate reignites. [...]

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:12:49 +0000

a program that will not let its users say if they are involved in it – why would they do this unless they were trying to hide something? Dubious – unethical – spammy.

I can see some bloggers using it but not ones who are trying to build genuine community on their sites.

By: Blog Link Ads - Irish SEO, Marketing & Webmaster Discussion

Blog Link Ads - Irish SEO, Marketing & Webmaster Discussion — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:40:31 +0000

[...] Originally Posted by glengara TWIC, John Scott has started a Blog Link Ads type service Contextual Links @ V7N No affiliation etc….. I think Darren Rowse was looking at that this week: V7N Contextual Links – a First Impression Review __________________ Armchair.ie | work|Blog Tips|Seo tips|EU Domain ScandalTechie Toys| Gadgets Do you want your vbulletin site to be search engine friendly? Click here for info [...]

By: Ajeet

Ajeet — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:28:51 +0000

Hey come on, let bloggers make some money, man! :)

By: Grayson De Ritis

Grayson De Ritis — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:36:37 +0000

Good lord, who made that horrendous “logo”!? Bleck.

By: Balkanboy » Blog Archive » Contextual links at v7n-facts and analysis

Balkanboy » Blog Archive » Contextual links at v7n-facts and analysis — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:16:26 +0000

[...] Darren Rowse, also pointed out his view about this service, also giving it negative comments and predictions(we will be back on some of his words latter) and Jeff Behrendt responded again. So did John Scot, also one of the owners of this program. Facts: [...]

By: Bernard

Bernard — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 12:25:56 +0000

As such i do not see a problem as long as the links are actually offering extra value for the readers, so all depends on what advertisors they will be working with. Time will show.

By: Marko Petkovic

Marko Petkovic — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:45:16 +0000

I saw many times that people purchase or sell text links in blog posts contacting directly and nobody ever had anything against it.
Why is this service flagged as spam if it is provided by 3rd party? Even better, they review both sides and keep quality of products and advertising spots that way.
If you are blogging about seo, why wouldn’t you get paid to insert relevant links into your posts?
If you think your readers wouldn’t like advertising in blog posts why you keep adsense in it? Personally I hate adsense in blog posts and never click on it or place it on my blogs.
From what I see, there is a chance that you already signed up with Contextual links and you are paid for link to it in your post above. If this is not the case, you are missing 10$ and there is no other difference.

By: Don

Don — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:36:12 +0000

Well, I can see both sides of this issue. I personally would not/do not pitch anything on my sites just because I’m getting paid to. I only promote products I’ve used and like or that close friends have used and liked.

However, I don’t see blogs in the blogosphere coming back from the commercial side. I don’t see any harm in a “commercial blogger” selling his/her wares on a commercial blog. Web surfers should be aware of, or made aware of, a commercialized site when the come upon it.

I think most of us are knowledgeable enough to know a b.s. post when we see one. We should also be able to spot “spamming post”.

Just my two cents worth,

Don