I would love it if there was an optional section in the Text with title block that could be use to link the title. I often use the text with title block for adding sponsors to a specific post. It would be great if I could also link the title to the sponsor as well.
Be aware Google and Bing would likely consider linking story title to a “sponsor” as text link advertising – which they would really ding you for. Just a thought.
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the heads up. Can I ask you a clarifying question? Would that be true regardless of the text of the title? For example, if the title was GoDaddy, or Shutterstock, rather than just the word Sponsor?
Basically Google is against ANY “text link” advertising or text linking networks… however, if you are adding rel=nofollow you’re likely fine, but many sponsors want dofollow “pretend organic links” …. you will have to research that. Best to fully read and digest Google’s official webmaster guidelines on text links:
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66356
Webmaster guidelines – current:
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/35769
Everybody on this forum should likely have read this SEO guide already (2010 version):
http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
However, be aware they are “whacking” major “link selling” networks, which has been a major effort since last Summer, including the TLA (Text Link Ads) folks.
ref
http://searchengineland.com/google-busts-yet-another-link-network-anglo-rank-179296
TO CLARIFY:
organic links to things mentioned in an original article are organic – linking to GoDaddy if you mention them in tutorial on how to use their mod_pagespeed settings, for example. So, just linking to Apple’s website page about their new Mac, in doing review would not be spammy.
ALL sponsored links on pages and in articles should be rel=nofollow or you will be bitten! Linking to GoDaddy or “domain registration” with a dofollow sponsored link in an article is spammy.
