Domain Inform - The nofollow code rel=nofollow

nofollow was invented by Google. It tell search engines that see this code that it will not get any link popularity or PageRank credit for the link. Search engines will still follow and index the page it links up to but will not be worth any credit for the link. It’s almost as if the link does not exists.

Google, Yahoo, MSN Unite On Support For Nofollow Attribute For Links

In the first cooperative move for nearly ten years, the major search engines have unveiled a new indexing command for web authors that they all recognize, one that they hope will help reduce the link and comment spam that plagues many web sites, especially those run by bloggers.

The new "nofollow" attribute that can be associated with links was originated as an idea by Google and pitched past MSN and Yahoo, as well as major blogging vendors, gaining support.

Their has been a lot of talk and confusion going around about this code but I want everybody to know that this code is considered by all 3 major search engines Google, yahoo and MSN. You will still see links from a nofollow link still show up and get indexed this link is still worthless to your search engine ranking.

nofollow History, Why Is Was Invented As Worded By Google

If you're a blogger (or a blog reader), you're painfully familiar with people who try to raise their own websites' search engine rankings by submitting linked blog comments like "Visit my discount pharmaceuticals site." This is called comment spam, we don't like it either, and we've been testing a new tag that blocks it. From now on, when Google sees the attribute (rel="nofollow") on hyperlinks, those links won't get any credit when we rank websites in our search results. This isn't a negative vote for the site where the comment was posted; it's just a way to make sure that spammers get no benefit from abusing public areas like blog comments, trackbacks, and referrer lists.

Nofollow was created to combat blog spam at least that what google said

2 Ways To nofollow

Rel=nofollow

Rel=external nofollow

Other problems with nofollow

Other webmasters have learned about the nofollow tag. This can be used as a sneaky way when getting links form other webmasters. Webmasters will ask you for a link exchange and you will then link to them and after about a week they will then add the nofollow code to your link. This will then be link they just linked to you cheating you out of their link exchange. They get all the juice and you get nothing. So be careful when you do a link exchange. Tell the webmaster you will check up on the link and if they find a nofollow code then you will remove the link.

Google Asks You To Use Nofollow in Paid Links

Google has now asked all webmaster to use the nofollow tag in all paid links. They also said they have a way to figure out a link is paid and will discount it anyway. Google said that they can figure out about 80% of all paid links. For the other 20% they say you can report them.

The nofollow Tag Hurts The Internet More Than It Helps!

The internet is about connecting the world together. Using nofollow is like say I don’t trust your site. Using nofollow is link connecting but saying I don’t really have anything to do with this site. Using nofollow hurts internet growth. Now all the big websites are starting to use nofollow. They already have so much link popularity but want to give back none. All Wikipedia, YouTube, stumbleopon, and other big social site Are Now NOFOLLOW.

What Is The yesfollow Project?

The yesfollow Project was created to give bloggers, commenters and forum participants the credit they deserve. The blogosphere provides some of the most useful content on the web, but due to the pervasive use of the “nofollow” attribute, most blogosphere contributors don’t get search engine credit for their comments and discussions. The yesfollow Project aims to change that.

TheYesfollowProject

Reasons Why NoFollow Tags Suck

The NoFollow link attribute (rel=”nofollow”) was originally created to block search engines from following links in blog comments, due to the amount of blog comment spamming.

The theory is that if spammers are spamming in blog comments to get better SEO and anchored links for their sites, NoFollow would render such spam useless. Problem is, spammers still spam.

Now, NoFollow has been adopted beyond blog comments. Wikipedia is now using NoFollow for external links and Google recommends that paid links use a NoFollow attribute.

Reasons Why noFollow Is A Failure

1. NoFollow = NoWorky. Using NoFollow in blog comments, the original intent of the tag, does nothing to discourage comment spammers. Using other anti-spamming tools such as question, math and plugins such as Akismet and SpamKarma for Wordpress is much more effective.

2. If a blogger moderates comments, there is no need for a NoFollow attribute. “Everyone who passes a human inspection should get the link love.”

3. Since the use of NoFollow in comments on Wordpress blogs is default, many bloggers do not even realize they are using NoFollow.

4. NoFollow=NoValue. Why use NoFollow on sites, text ads, and blogs if there is no value in terms of search engine indexing? What if they made the Yahoo! directory nofollow? Would anyone continue to purchase listings? Obviously the value of that directory would be zero of nofollow tags were applied to the listings.

5. Linking to someone with a NoFollow attribute is a sign of not trusting them. It’s like reaching to shake someone’s hand, but stopping to put on a pair of latex gloves.

6. No Follow sucks because the search engines (particularly Google) can’t make up their mind about when and how it should be used, thus causing confusion among inexperienced webmasters who do STUPID things like No Follow ALL outgoing links from their website to “protect the site from page rank leakage” and other silly ideas.

7. No-follow is a poor search engine’s solution to conceal its own failure to rank websites appropriately. What’s next, No-linking?

Search engines should be able to develop a method of identifying and devaluing links to spam sites which were placed in blog comments. Why should everyone who posts in blog comments suffer from the actions of a greedy few spammers.

8. Commenting on a blog post is the same as adding more relevant to that blog post. A thought provoking one sentence post can lead to pages of comments. If someone takes the time to help build your site’s content via posting comments, it is professional courtesy to give them some link love.

Putting NoFollow on Wikipedia is like putting Grey Poupon on a Spam sandwich.(Or like putting perfume on a pig.)

Taking Wikipedia to task over nofollow is fun but ultimately you need to take them to task for why they implemented nofollow in the first place - that is, to prevent spam. Which in turn means that the way Wikipedia was setup was flawed because it opened itself up to easy spamming.

Therefore, instead of just letting Wikipedia take the easy way out (because ultimately it’s an important resource for many people and replacing it would be tough), they should look at ways into changing their systems so they are not as open to spamming any more.

10. Text link advertisements which use a NoFollow make no sense. If you want to spread your Google juice, why use a link-condom?