After reviewing the impact that in-text link migration would have on some accounts we have decided to abandon the forced migration to in-text links and instead let it happen naturally. Here is what we will do instead:
Standard links will no longer be placed (already in effect)
Standard (non in-text) links will no longer be placed by Automatic Backlinks. Campaigns that have no in-text links will essentially be “paused”. We will implement better alerts for our users so that they fully understand the consequence of this and will probably remind those users via email from time to time.
New in-text links may push out existing standard links
If an in-text link (that takes two link spots) can not be placed on a page because one of the link spots is filled by an old standard link, the standard link will be removed to make place for the in-text link. This means that over time, in-text links will replace standard links. This priority placement only happens if there is one of two link spots available on the page.
Standard links will be removed first, if Link Credit balance is negative
Automatic Backlinks always tries to keep your Link Credit balance in zero. If you have a positive balance, it will try to reduce it by finding new links for you. If you have a negative balance it will eventually remove some of your backlinks. The news here is that we will now remove standard links before removing any in-text links.
Summary
The summary of the situation is that we are not going to rock the boat too hard with a forced migration at the moment, but instead will allow the system to slowly convert to in-text links. Perhaps it will take years for this conversion, but so be it.
The users who would like to stay as much in control as possible will have to manually upgrade their links to in-text links or risk loosing them.