I was a supporter of the nofollow link, which told search engines not to count that link in their popularity ranking algorithms.
But, after seeing Loren Baker’s post about how lame nofollow is, I find I’m changing my mind.
I’m very concerned, for instance, about Wikipedia’s use of nofollow. More and more of my friends say they now go to Wikipedia to search first before going to Google. Imagine a world where Wikipedia could lock Google out of key information. Wouldn’t it be ironic that something that Google invented could actually be used against it?
That said, I don’t go for the point that comment links should be judged by search engines the same as links in a blog. That sounds really elitist, I know, but I’m seeing all sorts of gaming going on in comments and it’s a lot easier to build authoritative Webs in blogs than in comments.
On WordPress.com Robert wouldn’t be able to make an editorial decision to make that link live, because all links are nofollow in comments.
The same is true for default wordpress.org blogs and MT, Typepad, Blogger.com etc etc
I have links posted frequently in my comments that are highly relevant to the conversation on that post, but don’t warrant a separate post that will end up in all my readers feeds.
I don’t know about Nofollo56565w.??//……
I don’t know about Nofollo56565w.??//……
[...] status plugin! It’s refreshing to read that people with a broad reach like Robert Scoble are re-evaluating their positions although some like Anil Dash remain less [...]
Number 31! Woot!.
Number 31! Woot!.
Number 32! Even better!
Number 32! Even better!
[...] Yoskovitz, Wendy Piersall, Chris Cree, Andy Beard and Chris Garrett have all seen the light. As has Robert Scoble. Well, I have too. So no more nofollow on [...]
[...] As well as Andy, a selection of other bloggers who can boost your page rank when you comment are (in no particular order): Wendy Piersall of eMoms at Home, Ben Yoskovitz of Instigator Blog, Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com, Chris Cree of SuccessCREEations, Chris Garrett of chrisg.com and Robert Scoble of Scobleizer. [...]
[...] Scoble [...]
Want to tell everyone that you’ve turned off the nofollow in your comments? Check out my new “ifollow” logos- grab one for your sidebar!
http://randaclay.com/archives/the-i-follow-movement
Want to tell everyone that you’ve turned off the nofollow in your comments? Check out my new “ifollow” logos- grab one for your sidebar!
http://randaclay.com/archives/the-i-follow-movement
[...] http://performancing.com/node/2678 http://scobleizer.com/2007/02/14/i-was-wrong-about-nofollow/ http://eightface.com/2005/01/technorati-tag-spam-nofollow-sucks/ *tip* [...]
[...] should you ditch the ‘nofollow’ attribute on your blog? Check out this article and this discussion, which might help you make that determination for [...]
[...] I started combing around. Here’s this from Scobleizer. Which led me to this from Search Engine [...]
Thanks for posting this. I did a Google search and chanced upon your article. Now, I have also started a do follow policy on my new blog – http://www.WhatSimplyWorks.com
Thanks for posting this. I did a Google search and chanced upon your article. Now, I have also started a do follow policy on my new blog – http://www.WhatSimplyWorks.com
yeah… those stupid wiki’s!
wonder what happen if we all use nofollow to them?
Have a good one.
yeah… those stupid wiki’s!
wonder what happen if we all use nofollow to them?
Have a good one.
Thanks for very interesting article. btw. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. So please keep up the great work. Greetings.
Thanks for very interesting article. btw. I really enjoyed reading all of your posts. It’s interesting to read ideas, and observations from someone else’s point of view… makes you think more. So please keep up the great work. Greetings.
I do-follow links now on my Aussie housewife blog. After a long time procrastinating I have seen the importance of dofollow and using the “do follow” principal to help keep the Internet better connected. http://www.reallyreally.net – Take a look at my dofollow blog and feel free to comment. Thank you, Regards Bree.
I do-follow links now on my Aussie housewife blog. After a long time procrastinating I have seen the importance of dofollow and using the “do follow” principal to help keep the Internet better connected. http://www.reallyreally.net – Take a look at my dofollow blog and feel free to comment. Thank you, Regards Bree.
[...] Great linkbait Loren! I agree with much of what you’re saying. While comment spam was the original problem that nofollow was supposed to solve, I think that the greater concept is still applicable. Yes, it’s a bandaid that’s imposed by the search engines to make their jobs easier. But, I do see the usefulness of it. If you (or any webmaster) do not have good editorial control over what links are placed on your website, nofollow is a good tool to let the search engines know that you cannot vouch for the quality of the links. If you, or Wikipedia, can take the time to give editorial review to all links posted, then of course the nofollow is irrelevant. I think a lot of people have perverted the meaning of it, though. But, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. I posted the following on Scobleizer; [...]
I think the interesting part, google makes this job unknown so we dont know exactly what is happening.. if google is counting or not.. is nofollow links work for someting or not.. so there is always a hope
I think the interesting part, google makes this job unknown so we dont know exactly what is happening.. if google is counting or not.. is nofollow links work for someting or not.. so there is always a hope
yeah… those stupid wiki’s!
wonder what happen if we all use nofollow to them?
Have a good one.
yeah… those stupid wiki’s!
wonder what happen if we all use nofollow to them?
Have a good one.
[...] Robert Scoble: I was Wrong About NoFollow [...]
I am totally agree with your opinion. Search engines do not crawl these no follow links.
Not entirely true. They DO generally follow the links (so the page gets indexed) but the page gets no credit for the link to it. As google heavily use incoming links to influence the search position and key words, these nofollow links provide no help in this way.
However, the page still gets indexed, so unique content may make it show up in google, and some search engines ignore the nofollow attribute anyway.
If you want a search engine not to follow any links in the page you have to use it in robots or the header.
hey nice one hhhmmm
i really like your post thanks for it
hey nice one hhhmmm
i really like your post thanks for it