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Went Hot: April 21, 2008 - 3:58 am
Posted By: graywolf 170 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.techcrunch.com)
Category: Link Building
"Instead of going free and opening up to all, they’re using the new program to simply price discriminate. Give people who may link to the site free access."
So where does this fall in the Google paid links debate? Sure Encyclopedia Britannica has great content but is giving up something which has a cash value in exchange for a link the same as buying a link? It's a slippery slope to be sure.
7 Comments
Comments
We don't need Google to punish them... they're still living with the memory of this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiZ7RTmby-Y
As for "giving something which has a cash value in exchange for a link" I think that's a little off-base with this particular example. Number one... what's the real cash value? Encyclopedia Britannica is like the housing market, just because they gave something an over-inflated value, doesn't mean it'll go for that. Number two... there's no requirement that a user link to Britannica for the service. If you choose to link to them then you've presumably written a post that's topical and enriched by the widget; it's not like I have to embed a link to socket wrenches in my blog about Britney Spears.
I personally like the concept and hope it gives Wikipedia a kick in the balls. I doubt that will happen, but I love the idea of embedding a quick reference to a topic instead of having to link to sitethatmustnotbenamed.
let's say it's cash value is a penny then. although, we know better than that. i know i'm doin' my lil' exchange. ;-)
This is brilliant! Very Web 2.0-ish thinking on Encyclopedia Britannica's part.
:applause: (wish I had my smilies here!)
that's awsome :)
What a genius ruse. Met a couple of EB's online team last year. Seemed like bright cookies.
Give the person/people responsible a pay on the back and a suitable pay rise!
yea..what jill said
So how is this different from Matt was doing?