Found a very interesting link recently on a mobile / broadband / phone companies website that seems to be a promotional advert to their SEO company. The text is very SEO friendly with 3 back links back to the company with a variety of SEO / Website Design related anchor text. This to us ‘stinks’ and is clearly a paid link / advertisement so we contacted the company to point this out. Their reply is interesting, see below.
[Question to Mobile / Broadband / Phone Company] Can you please explain why your website is promoting another company? I believe these are paid for links and they will be reported
[Company Reply] I am sorry that you had to contact us with regards to the advertisement on our website. Please be advised that the reason for ourselves advertising the SEO company is to help companies that are struggling to command the attention their company deserves with the online arena.
The advertisement on our website with regard to the SEO company is just for promotional purposes of the new yet well-renowned company. Their quest is that for companies who are struggling to command the attention it deserves within the online arena, they would benefit from employing their outsourcing services. Our Company is doing this simply for business purposes. I trust this information has addressed your concern