Just wanted to put my blog out there and may be you can consider it in your 2009 list. Many thanks and keep up the great work!

1. Linking back to the writing project is meant to encourage those who read your post to have an idea about it. We did not require any keyword to be used as it is not for seo as some have raised here.

2. Linking to the sponsors is only asked for if you want to take part in the raffle. That is our way also of recognizing them for their support. It is not mandatory to link to them.

3. Blogs you have cited will still get counted if you’ll be able to make a complete qualified 10 by deadline date.

I hope this helps Simon and thank you again for joining.

To add a little more background, there’s an interesting post from Matt Cutts of Google here: http://www.dullest.com/blog/text-links-and-pagerank/

It seems to me the main risk is if someone reports paid links (which I guess those sponsors are) to Google (piece about that here: http://www.dullest.com/blog/how-to-report-paid-links/ ) then Google can penalise sites that link to them in terms of their own search rankings.

There is a way round it, which is to code the links as no-follow. But that’s a huge pain in the backside!

By the way, Brett, I’ve no doubt that Simon’s intentions are all good – it’s the original organiser I have questions about.

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

If you’re honest in your approach to take part – I don’t think it matters. Your intent is obviously genuine and raising a concern shows that.

On a side note: it makes me wonder if it wasn’t SEO that fuelled the growth of social media. But that’s for another discussion.

Brett

Thanks for raising your concerns, I have highlighted them with the organiser, who said she’d respond in a week or so. So in the meantime, I’ve decided to strip the links out of the post (I hope that’s the right thing to do)…

Question, should I leave the links to the blogs I’ve recommended or take them out as I have now?

So we have black hat SEO … is this black hat social media … trying to game Google/Technorati etc?

I’ve enjoyed getting involved in the social media sphere – and learning tremendous amounts along the way.

Love the idea behind the ‘emerging’ blogs as it can seem particularly daunting for even the most insightful contributors to get involved.

Although, like Timbrella I’m a bit dubious about its obligatory linking policy?

Regards,
Brett.

I’m mostly intrigued as to how it will unfold. I have met Janette a couple of times and it would seem out of character for her… However, I could be wrong.

I’m enormously flattered to be on your list. Thanks!

Having had a quick peek at the site running the competition though, I’m a bit cynical that it’s more a piece of link baitery on their part rather than a genuin attempt to add value to the blogosphere.

The other issue is the insistence of links for the sponsors. To me that comes pretty close to what Matt Cutts (cuddly Google search meister) has warned against in terms of paid links.

What do you reckon?

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella