Can bad backlinks harm your website?

[activitysuper]

Hi,

This has been discussed to death over the web on many forums, some discussions are even very heated arguing both sides.

So... from what I have read on seomoz the answer to this question is... YES.

And if one was so inclined to build bad backlinks to a competitor it would have a negative effect.

Agree?

[EGOL]

Lots of people (philosophers) have an idea about how they think google "should" behave.  Then you have people who know what they are talking about and philosophers who are unwilling to believe that they are wrong.

Finally, just because we see something happen doesn't mean we know what caused it.

[activitysuper]

Thanks for the replies,

I would never go down this route, as both of you have said the time/money spent would be better spent on white hat for my own site, plus I just don't agree with it.

But the question had to be asked for my own knowledge as a lot of people state it doesn't have an impact. A lot say the only way to be hit is by linking out to bad websites, which is obv not true.

[Jinx14678]

Of course below is just my opinion... But it seems highly plausible...

Everything we do leaves a footprint, that footprint is analyzed by the algorithm - The algorithm has flags both ways with unnatural links. Either done by you - or against you...

I think this has always been one of Google's biggest challenges,not always necessarily how to penalize site owners and SEO's who are actually using Black hat - but how do you filter that against having black hat done against them algorithmically ?

The reason some claim it work, is I am sure there ARE ways to do it... But as ipositions **excellently ** points out.. This money could be much better spent employing strategies that not only help your search positioning, but your overall brand perception and marketing in general. Opposed to just hurting someone else to make yourself look better (sounds like politics!)

Shane

[MassivePrime]

"And if one was so inclined to build bad backlinks to a competitor it would have a negative effect"

There is a whole branch called Negative SEO specialised in destroying your competitor' SERPS and though you will find loads of sites promoting that they do this in a "Completeley legal" I urge you not to succumb to the temptation of trying it.

The time and money you would spend trying to negatively impact others would be better spent on optimizing your own site, and think about it: If suddenly anyone above you starts dropping in rankings and your site is the only one that ascends don't you think someone is going to wonder why?