Kenichi Suzuki notified me via Google+ that Google has updated the link schemes guideline page. Specifically making the widget links section more specific and less general.
Now it reads:
Keyword-rich, hidden or low-quality links embedded in widgets that are distributed across various sites, for example:
Yesterday is read:
Links embedded in widgets that are distributed across various sites, for example:
The example was the same, here are screen shots if you do not believe me:
New:
Old:
As you can see, Google stopped saying any links and now is specifically saying keyword-rich or hidden or low-quality links within widgets are against Google guidelines.
Matt Cutts, Google's head of search spam, said in August of last year to nofollow links in widgets in this video:
So I guess Google backed down a bit on this by being more specific on the type of links in the widgets.
Forum discussion at Google+.
Update: So what is the real reason for the change?
Thx to @dannysullivan for pointing out that we could clarify our stance on links embedded in widgets: http://t.co/038YpFwyPj
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) January 10, 2014
