Cheers
Gab

The problem is Google don’t tell you when they change policy on these areas.

Thanks to Matt Cutts to explain the current situation, but would like Google to be a little more open when they do change the rules. We are not all 100% black hats, and we actually like to follow “most” of the rules.

Sometimes I take things too literal. But it’s also good to know that the Google ‘gods’ allow you to have a diverse noticeable link.

I’m sure the KISS method applies (mainly for usability with links) but I got some friends that try to do things crazy different. I assumed that the question was more literal and I’m glad those assumptions were corrected cause it definitely got me worried. Although, if it were true, it wouldn’t make any legit since for Google to do, I wouldn’t put the extreme past Google. :/

Anywho. Thanks again Gab for the followup, I appreciate it. =)

In other words, bolded rather than underlined links are fine by Google. However, some of your users may have difficulty with that, if you check out the posts I linked to.

I know some design freaks that are different. They don’t like the normal standard hyperlink. So instead, they bold links instead of underline, their intent is not to deceive users but instead to cause a different trend. A trend of different style links.

For example. Gab, look at your site. Below and on your side bar, I see links. Links that are not underlined but they do something when hovered over (lighter blue for those links below, or blue background for the side navigation).

Plus, I think it’s kind of funny how you linked to his blog. ‘http://www.mattcutts.com/blog” then “/hidden-links/” Good times. Good times.

My beef is not with the paid links (that’s for another day) it’s with their idea that they decide what a link should look like.

Sure. Intent is important but what about those outliers? People who use bold. Or something different. Where TO THE USER it’s obvious it’s a link but to a simple bot it’s a manipulated link?

Does Google penalize those too? Or devalue them? I hope not because that would drive me nuts. But I hope I’m taking it too literal and Google isn’t saying “We must use underlines” cause that would suck for some and not keep the democracy of the web, a democracy.

Take care,

Nate