Nofollow vs. Dofollow: The Verdict is In
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Both today and tomorrow I’m going to be challenging you to look at the dofollow/nofollow debate from a new, fresh perspective. We’ve been programmed to believe that providing our readers with dofollow links is both rewarding to them and that it’s a great way to stick it to the man (Google).
There are actually several great arguments against Nofollow but I contend that many of them are myths and I’m about to show you why.
Note: Nofollow is a tag created by Google that identifies a link as one that should not be followed by search engines and as one that should not pass Page Rank through it into the linked site. It tells Google that although we are linking to the page, we are not vouching for or against its quality.
Myth #1: NoFollow Discourages Comments
Don’t you think that if you’re advertising that you have ‘dofollow’ links and someone leaves a comment as a result that you are essentially paying them to talk to you? Isn’t that the same as buying friends? Sure you might lose out on a couple of people commenting on your site if you use the NoFollow tag, but when did it become right to essentially pay people to talk to you? That’s not building relationships.
Wouldn’t it be better for your community to focus on creating great content and drawing in people to enjoy it rather than building a false sense of community based on paying people to get involved in the conversation?
Don’t we all agree that comments provide an amazing sense of validation to an author? They can agree with the content or debate it but it still reveals that people are paying attention to what you have to say. By providing incentives to people to comment, that validation is completely false.
Suppose you write a worthless article. Instead of that article getting no comments that you would then internalize and would determine to produce better articles, the same worthless article gets 10 comments and you believe that it’s great.
On the other hand, I would prefer the zero comments because I would then notice that and learn from it. I would use that experience to learn and study so that I can build legitimately powerful and attractive content. I’ve done that and I now have some articles with nearly 300 comments.
Wouldn’t it be better to have amazing conversations in our comments sections that are purely driven by a passion for the subject being discussed rather than being driven by incentives?
Myth #2: NoFollow is Not Needed. Just Moderate Comments.
Random outbound links throughout the comment section can actually harm your authority and PageRank. This can actually be less beneficial to both those getting those dofollow links and to those hundreds or thousands of people who will now not find your content because Google won’t list your site. If Google feels like your content is random or sporadic based on the unusual and irrelevant links found in the comments section then they won’t list you and you’ll be missing out on a lot of potential members in your community.
If someone leaves you a good comment but their website is something that you are ashamed of because it’s porn, payday loans, pirated software, content that doesn’t relate to yours, content that’s not really helpful to anyone, or content that’s just generally worthless, that’s okay with you?
If not then you would have to click through on every single person’s comment and check out their site and see if it is something that you endorse? What if you start getting hundreds of comments per day or if you work a full time job and you are unable to do that?
There are many sites that I think are appropriate enough to leave the link in the author section of the comment but not appropriate enough for me to want to endorse them with a vote to Google. NoFollow is the solution to that dilemma.
Group Reflection
In tomorrow’s article, I’m going to be dispelling the third and final myth surrounding the dofollow vs. nofollow debate.
In the meantime, however, I want your feedback. I want to know what type of links you use in your comments section on your blog and I want to know why.
Tomorrow I’ll let you know if the links at Site Sketch 101 are dofollow or nofollow. You might be surprised at what I tell you. Stay tuned.
Robyn from Sam's Web Guide said:
Now that’s a new perspective Nicholas
Honestly, I do use dofollow on my site, although i don’t advertise that I do. I haven’t had a visitor who has tried to exploit it though. The comments I receive are generally legitimate and do spark added discussion.
You made a very valid point about encouraging comments through dofollow and I do agree at some level.
I think the fact that a site is dofollow will encourage a visitor to express their views rather than just read and leave. So yes its an incentive.
I would not want my site’s ranking to be compromised because I’m automatically linking to shady websites though. Does google have any resources on dofollow and nofollow?
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Robyn from Sam’s Web Guide » As I said in the article, I’ll be announcing what the comment links at Site Sketch 101 are tomorrow so people will know. I actually have a very unique system set up with my links.
The best resources that you can check out from Google would be to skim through Matt Cutts blog and watch and videos and read any articles that he has produced. He provides some resources on it there. I’ll actually be posting one of his videos on this subject in tomorrow’s article.
Chris said:
You’re absolutely right, Nick. We’ve been taught than “any link is a good link” when it comes to dofollow blog commenting. The truth is that the more I delve into SEO manuals the more I keep seeing that dofollow links aren’t all that valuable. I’ve learned that a lot of a link’s value comes from it’s anchor text and the page rank of the page it’s on.
Blog commenting has long been an accepted form of traffic production, but I think the traffic comes from curious readers clicking to your website, not because the link has raised your rankings in the search engines.
Nicholas Cardot said:
You’ve got it exactly right. As a means of connecting with people and developing new relationships, commenting is great. But as a means of building stronger SEO, commenting is poor.
Comment sections weren’t designed, in my opinion, to provide an exchange of SEO services. They were designed to provide an avenue for authers and readers to discuss issues.
Also, what is the difference between earning links to your content through dofollow links and earning links by paying for them? Both types are links are not being created because the page designer believes that the content is great. They are both there only because someone is trying to manipulate the system.
Comments should be about rallying conversations around the topics in which we are interested. They shouldn’t be a place where we bribe people to talk to us.
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Ed said:
this is hard. sometimes i just want comments, even if just them saying good post or what ever. my website is such a desert that anything makes me happy
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D'MarieF said:
Comments on my blog are probably nofollow since it’s wordpress and I haven’t changed the default, but I’m not sure how to verify that for sure.
As a newby blogger, I still have and take time to visit all of my commenters websites, leaving quality comments for them in return.
As for dofollow vs nofollow, I’m very interested in hearing how you’re handling it on your site. I’ve noticed some comments with links to the authors lastest blog post which appeals to me as a commenter. Is this an acceptable practice I could adopt for commenting on this and other blogs?
Thanks!
Sanford said:
An interesting subject.
I do follow through on some commenters. Espescially if their comments are “important” and have seen them comment before.
I’m starting the process of revamping and remodeling my online presence in connection with starting a new blog. And, use my twitter page as my website. I’d seen this done before and think maybe requiring a social network rather than website might work. Don’t know how this would affect SEO.
“Great post” means nothing. Who would follow a link from that?
Anyway. just some thoughts. Looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
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Toya said:
Thanks for posting this Nick because as a WordPress newbie I was not even certain what difference choosing nofollow and dofollow would make, but you have made it much more clear for me.
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Web Hosting UK said:
Running a dofollow blog takes an investment of time and effort something that spammers don’t want to do.
Yes the do follow attribute motivates the commentator to comment but spamming must not be tolerated some will even will go to the extent of adding link in the body of the comment, that’s disgusting!
Ron Leyba said:
I think, much better if this nofollow/dofollow blog comment links will be on a case to case basis (I think there is a plugin or some kind of script for that).
Let us say, if the commenters name contains some p0rn words or something like that, you can tell that script or plugin to nofollow the link or even more, spam that comment.
Just my 0.02 cents.
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Tycoon Blogger said:
I am going to have to disagree with you on this. My blog is do follow and I have never felt like I am paying someone to comment. I feel that being do follow is a legitimate way to get people to visit a blog. If the comment is strong they will stick around. If they do stick around and continue to add good comments then I want to reward them for doing so. I am still a proud member of the do follow movement.
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Keith said:
The question then becomes, would the same people be there commenting if you removed do-follow? To me, if they would stay after you removed do-follow, then they are there for content, if not, you were paying them for a comment (and the pay was essentially a wooden nickel because comment links aren’t weighed the same as content links).
My Latest Blog Post: Twitter: How I Follow
Nicholas Cardot said:
Keith » That’s exactly right. It’s like paying people with a big wooden nickel. That’s the perfect way to describe it. It makes people feel good, but it doesn’t really help anyone.
Robb Sutton said:
I don’t advertise do-follow comments on my blogs like some other bloggers do. I have found that the quality of their comments drastically decreases due to the race to get the most inbound links. I want my comments section to be about quality conversation, not links.
Same holds true for all of the “most comments readers” widgets. I want to encourage conversation through content. If that means I don’t have as many comments on my articles…that is fine by me.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Robb Sutton » I agree with you and Keith over at Hot Blog Tips was noticing the same thing with his comment section. He actually got rid of dofollow and now the quality of the conversation has increased drastically.
jan geronimo said:
The commentluv url link to one’s latest post is good enough incentive for commenters. I share your view that Do Follow links – especially ones that are advertised – may likely give us a false sense of achievement in that we’ve written a terrific post. It could very well be that the flurry of comments can be attributed to one’s decision to make his blog Do Follow.
Of course, there are those who will genuinely engage with you and your content regardless. But a good number will be in it because of the transactional benefits only, and this is disheartening.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
jan geronimo » Remember that comments that are motivated by a link may still add to the conversation, but they do provide a false sense of achievement. They make you feel like your articles are inspiring people to comment when in reality they may only be commenting for the benefit of their own website.
element321 said:
Great post. My site is DoFollow and I haven’t had any big issues with spam. I do advertise that the site is DoFollow. But I use a plugin to control the spam I do get and a DoFollow plugin that keeps the NoFollow tag until a reader comments five times. I review all comments and make sure these sites are safe sites and if they are truly harmful I delete the spam.
DoFollow being a form of payment. It is and I know some of my readers wouldn’t comment but right now, my site does not have that many readers so any comments are good.
In the future I may change the DoFollow rules but right now I plan on keep it.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
element321 » I use that same plugin that you use except that mine is set at 15 comments. I feel like that provides the perfect balance between the safety of less damaging spam links and the community oriented sharing that so many people support in the dofollow community.
Reza Winandar said:
I already make my blog semidofollow, by placing a top commentators widget. So, no one will spam my blog and I still moderate them all.
My Latest Blog Post: This is blog is now Do Follow
Dennis Edell said:
I’m torn, big time. My blogs have been do-follow since the beginning of time…the first plugin creation that is, and I’ve also made it known.
On both my DSWM blog and now on DE, I have received more comments per post then many, many blogs; including a top blogger or two (testing the subscriber to comment ratios).
Not bragging here; facts are facts.
I can honestly say, with the possible exception of a few this month (upcoming post on this), ALL have added incredible value and conversation to the original post.
As y’all point out, this is why the comments section exists in the first place, right?
Now, did my do follow, commentluv, keywordluv, top commenter plugins have something to do with it?
I’d like to think it’s largely due to my adding value and conversation to their blogs first, being the comment commando I am, lol; but who knows?
More to the point, WHO CARES?
Look, if someone is taking time from THEIR day to post amazing content to MY blog, and IF there’s even a slight possibility that my plugins will return something to them…then so be it.
Call this personal opinion if you wish, but until someone can show me definitive proof that do follow comment links (significantly) dilute the power of contextual links, I think that one is still up for debate.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Dennis Edell » I admire and respect that attitude. I just don’t want people leaving me comments simply because I’m paying them to do it. I want them to join in because they actually enjoy interacting with the community.
Danny @ DoFollow Blogs said:
I really do understand the whole commenting on your blog because they want to. I really guess it is what perspective you look at.
Some people look at is as rewarding you with a dofollow link to your site for leaving a quailty comment that adds value to your blog.
Others look at is as just a way for others to reap benefits just by adding a comment and don’t really care about your blog whatsoever.
I really don’t care how someone gets to my blog and what their motives are as long as it is something of value that is related to the topic at hand, then I am happy.
Does a salesperson ever question the motives of a client of why they have contacted them? No they are just happy at the opportunity for a sale.
If someone does not get to your blog there is 0% chance of them ever getting them to like or dislike your blog. Why are you concerned how they got there?
I guarantee their are dofollow blogs out their that have built quality relationships with other bloggers that only visited their site because it was a dofollow blog. Does that make the relationship any less important?
I do see and understand both perspectives and hope we all can respect that it is matter of preference and their is no right or wrong when it comes to dofollow and nofollow blogs.
I don’t think their is anything wrong in promoting yourself as a dofollow blog and in by doing so it is not bashing any blog that is nofollow.
I do think it is good for bloggers especially newbie bloggers to see both sides of the debate for them to make an education decision on what they feel is best for their blog.
My Latest Blog Post: DoFollow Vs NoFollow Debate
Nicholas Cardot said:
Danny @ DoFollow Blogs » I agree with you and I strongly respect your decision. In fact, most of the comment links here are dofollow and all of the trackbacks are. I support dofollow strongly, but I also understand nofollow and appreciate what it can bring to the table and why it is useful. I highly appreciate your comment and just as you referenced in the comment itself about bringing value to the conversation, you definitely did that with your feedback and for that, I’m grateful.
I love your take on the issue and as a fellow dofollower I agree with much of what you say. I do, however, feel that motives are important. In fact, if someone goes to purchase something from a store and makes mention that their motive with that item is to do harm to someone then they are legally bound not to sell them that merchandise whether it is a gun, a knife, or a pipe from a hardware store. But a sale is a sale, right?
Of course, we’re not talking about murder here, but we are talking about the difference between a relationship built on a mutual passions for Monster Trucks (I’m using that as a fictitious topic for a blog) rather than on a desire to get as much from you as I can take.
I suppose that transforms the relationship into a business relationship and in the broad scheme of things, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that. You leave a comment and I link back to your site. It’s a win-win situation. But would you date a girl that had that attitude toward you? I love my wife regardless of what she gives me and she loves me regardless of what I give her in return. I don’t have to reward her for her conversation and that creates a much stronger relationship than one that is based on giving what you have to in order to take what you can get.
These are just a few random thoughts on it. Again, I love dofollow and obviously you do also.
Shailendra@EazeeBlog said:
I am just starting to setup by blog & I have been doing a lot of research on various aspects of blogging. Comments & Nofollow is also one of the hot topics in my mind!
This was a compelling read!
Here’s my take:
I agree with Dennis Edell & I add my reasons my reasons are the following:
1. The internet exists because of “dofollow” (SEO perspective AND otherwise). Imagine if we took the Nofollow to its extreme version & simply stopped linking. Internet will soon lose both “Inter” and “Net”
2. There are many tools available to automatically filter out comments that do not add value to your post (for WordPress an Akismet!). This does not discount the importance of manual monitoring as mentioned by Anne Moss. A blogger who does not take the time to monitor & reply to comments is doomed anyways. You, Nicholas, are a good example who takes keen interest in participating in the discussion. I believe monitoring comments on your posts should not be too difficult for you.
3. Every one on the internet are usually doing one of two things; educating oneself or communicating. On a blog it is mostly educating. And if over that they are becoming part of your blog, then they need to be given back something, which is not necessarily “paying”. It maybe more like returning the favor.
Nevertheless, this blog did almost change my perspective on the Nofollow vs Dofollow.
So far, I still stick to Dofollow!
Anne Moss said:
I believe that I carry some responsibility for every link posted on my blog. Comment section or not. I wouldn’t link out to a bad neighborhood with or without a nofollow tag, because I have my visitors’ best interest at heart.
If I think a link is ok for my visitors to click, Google can eat it up for all I care. I am not about to sculpt PR or channel juice around.
You say it can be too time consuming to monitor all links in comments. I think if you absolutely can’t do that – don’t allow links in comments. Do you really think adding a comment on Matt Cutts’ blog with a link to a spammy p0rn site would get through? nofollow or not, the site needs to be monitored to some extent.
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Link Building said:
first of all i would like to say thanks for installing this keyword.dofollow and keywordluv both are tremendous after installing keywordluv on my site i got good results. i got good points here.great work.
Jessica @ Driving Schools Sutton said:
Hi Nicholas, I’m also interested in this. (See the latest blog post on my blog.) This is enjoyable to read, you’ve most certainly provided me with lots of food for thought! – driving101.
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blue2x said:
Do follow. We want to encourage more comments in our blogs , and that would inspire us further. Just take good care of your comments , some people tend to spam their links.
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Google Ranking said:
Making DoFollow blogs is one strategy to bring traffic. A lot of people out there looking for a blog DoFollow and you managed to get people to visit. I’ll review your blog
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where to buy a kindle said:
If you have a do follow blog then people will love to visit your blog. And do follow can help you in increasing traffic on your blog.
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marc said:
I think, much better if this nofollow / dofollow blog comment links will be on a case to case basis (I think there is a plugin for wordpress)
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Nicholas Cardot said:
Actually, I use a plugin here that only makes them dofollow after a person has left a certain number of comments.
Brad Harmon said:
What plugin are you using for this, Nicholas. My blog is still Do Follow, but I’ve been thinking about removing it with some of the latest moves by Google. I’m using the Do Follow plugin now, but I have no control over it.
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Nicholas Cardot said:
I use a plugin called NoFollow Free.
Christian said:
The mistake bloggers and website builders make is when the traffic is low they include comments on the site. In my opinion you should monitor your traffic and once you have built it up – then allow for comments. If not the site looks sparse, and your in a constant battle with proving you have good content while browsers of your webpage see signs of a ghost town.
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Mark said:
Your site is listed in my DoFollow list of high PR blogs. You can take a look and leave comment on my article if you are not satisfied with some description of your site.
Link is : http://interestingwebs.blogspot.com/2011/09/high-pr-dofollow-backlins-blogs-list.html
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Andy said:
Do follow posts encourage more posts.
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Robin Cannon said:
Certainly think that overtly advertising “Do Follow” links on a site is kinda cheap.
But I don’t particularly agree even with the ethos of nofollow. The most common blog comments tend to refer to the subject at hand, and link either to the writer’s own site (often relevant) or to useful additional information. Exactly the kind of links that should benefit.
Nofollow more often penalizes something that’s adding value to a blog, rather than provides any great benefit. From a WordPress standpoint, even Matt Mullenweg says making nofollow a default was essentially a failure in its main purpose, which was to address spam.
Iris@lasik eye surgery malaysia said:
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt,
you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something that
not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I stumbled across this during my search for something relating to this.