A method where sites pay search engines for guaranteed crawling or indexing.
Ever wished you could just pay to have your website show up in Google’s search results? The idea sounds simple, but it is a bit more complicated and even a little risky. I am going to explain exactly what is paid inclusion, how it works, and why I advise caution. I will give you the full scoop, so you can make smart decisions about your website’s SEO, no matter what platform you are on.
What is Paid Inclusion?
Paid inclusion is a type of agreement where a website owner pays a search engine or a directory to be included in its search index. The payment is typically a one-time fee or an annual fee to get a website’s pages crawled and listed. This is very different from paying for ads, which appear in a separate section from the regular search results.
The key thing to know is that Google does not offer paid inclusion. Its goal is to provide the best, most natural results possible for its users. In the past, some smaller search engines and directories offered this service. I think of it as a way to guarantee my site gets seen, but not necessarily a way to guarantee a high ranking.
Paid Inclusion vs. Paid Search Ads
People often confuse paid inclusion with paid search ads. Paid search ads, like Google Ads, are clearly marked and appear at the top or bottom of the search results page. I pay per click on these ads, and they are not part of the organic search results. Paid inclusion, on the other hand, tries to get my site listed in the organic results, which is why it is often seen as a shady practice.
Paid Inclusion on Different CMS Platforms
The concept of paid inclusion is about getting a site listed in a search engine’s index, so it is not directly tied to a specific CMS. The money I pay goes to the search engine, not to my website’s code. However, the way I manage my website and its SEO on each platform is what truly matters for long-term success.
WordPress
On WordPress, I focus on building my organic presence. I create great content and optimize my pages to rank naturally. I do not rely on shortcuts like paid inclusion. I use plugins to ensure my site is fast and easy for search engines to crawl, which is a much better long-term strategy than paying for a listing.
Shopify & Wix
Shopify and Wix are built for success in the organic search results. They have clean code and are easy to set up. I would never recommend paying for inclusion on these platforms. I would rather spend my money on creating great product images and descriptions, and on running smart paid search ads to drive traffic.
Webflow & Custom CMS
With a custom CMS or Webflow, I have the ability to build a perfect website from the ground up. This gives me a huge advantage in organic search. I focus on creating a site that is technically perfect for SEO. This is a much better use of my time and resources than considering a risky practice like paid inclusion.
Paid Inclusion in Different Industries
No matter what industry I am in, I always focus on building a strong, long-term SEO strategy. I know that paying for a quick fix like paid inclusion is a risky path that will not lead to lasting success. My efforts are always put toward earning my rankings naturally.
Ecommerce
For my ecommerce store, I do not even consider paid inclusion. I would rather spend my money on Google Ads to get my products in front of buyers right away. I also focus on improving my organic SEO by getting customer reviews and creating great product-related content. This is a much safer and more profitable way to do business.
Local Businesses
For a local business, I would never pay for inclusion. I know that my local SEO is built on things like my Google Business Profile, local directories, and great reviews. Paying for a spot in a random directory would not help my business and could even look bad to my customers.
SaaS & Blogs
As a SaaS company or a blogger, my authority is my most valuable asset. I build my authority by creating great content that people want to link to. Paid inclusion would go against my entire strategy. I would much rather spend my time writing a helpful article than paying a directory to list me.
FAQ
Q1: Is Paid Inclusion a good SEO strategy today?
A: I would say no. Paid inclusion is not offered by major search engines like Google and Bing. I focus my efforts on creating great content and earning my rankings. This is a much more reliable and ethical way to build my online presence.
Q2: Is a paid directory listing considered paid inclusion?
A: It can be. The line is blurry. If I pay to be listed in a local business directory that provides a valuable service to its users, that is likely fine. But if I am paying a site just to get a link and no other value, that is a risky practice that could be seen as paid inclusion.
Q3: What should I do instead of paid inclusion?
A: I recommend focusing on three things. First, create high-quality content that provides real value. Second, build great backlinks by earning them naturally from other websites. Third, if I want to pay for traffic, I use paid search ads, like Google Ads, which are a safe and effective way to get in front of customers right away.
