NoFollow, DoFollow, and CommentLuv
NoFollow, DoFollow, and CommentLuv
Recently I made a post about CommentLuv. I received some comments on that post that mentioned that a DoFollow plugin should be used along with the CommentLuv plugin. I knew that and use a DoFollow on by blog. Just didn’t think of it at the time I wrote that post. Comments are always appreciated by anyone that is involved with blogging. They gave me an idea for another post.
So, I thought I would write a post about NoFollow. What’s going on here? Why use another plugin? Many times when a person makes a comment on a blog a reference will be made to another blog, and a link will be provided to that blog. By default this link will have the NoFollow tag attached to it since it is in the comment section of the blog.
Let’s define these concepts first.
I’ll start with NoFollow. NoFollow is a bit of HTML code that is included with a link so that the search engines will not use that link in determining the rank of the link. In other words, the web site or blog targeted by the link will get no credibility or influence in the search engines ranking process.
In case you are curious, it looks something like <a rel=”nofollow” href=”http://www.website.com/”>website</a>
When the search engines see this code, rel=”nofollow”, they will not use the link to determine the rank of the referenced website or blog.
This does not mean that the search engine will not necessarily follow the link, it just means that they will not count the link as an inbound link to the website that follows the NoFollow tag.
The different search engines apply the NoFollow tag in the way that they want to. For example, Google will follow the link but will not attribute any credit to the link as an inbound link to the targeted web site.
NoFollow came into existence in an attempt to stop spammers from using multiple links in comments as a means to artificially increase the search engine rankings of their sites.
When the NoFollow code is used anyone can still click on the link and get to the website. In addition search engines can still get to the site also. However, the presence of the NoFollow code will keep the search engines form increasing the rank of the referenced website.
The NoFollow tag, which is generally the default, is a problem for people who want to comment on blogs. It discourages the use of commenting as a means of participation and interaction on blogs.
The purpose of the comment section is to add value by making legitimate comments about the content of the post or maybe a comment left by someone else. The comment section can also be use to start a dialog with the blog owner.
But since the NoFollow tag is used there is no value gained by using a link to your website since the search engines will use the NoFollow tag as a code that tells them not to reward the referenced site with any so called link juice.
If someone takes the time and effort to leave a good comment on your blog, why shouldn’t they get some link juice for it, i.e. search engine reward.
That is where a DoFollow plugin comes into play. It disables the automatic NoFollow tag attribute. Now links in the comments section will receiver consideration for ranking by the search engines.
By using one of the DoFollow plugins, you will be able to allow your visitors to comment on your blog and get link juice, or Luv, to their blogs. With CommentLuv they can even select a particular post from a list of current posts on their blog that want to receive the Luv.
By a like token, if you comment on a blog that has CommentLuv activated, you will receive link juice, or Luv, back to your blog.
SEM DoFollow and Wordpress Plugin: NoFollow Free are two commonly used DoFollow plugins. These will allow you to give and receive true link Luv. You give LUV to those that comment on your blog and you receive it when you comment on someone’s blog.
It’s a good thing to reward people that comment on your blog and to receive rewards when you comment on other people’s blogs. Therefore, adding the CommentLuv plugin and a DoFollow plugin to your blog should just be a natural thing to do – maybe even a priority action. Add these to your blogging efforts now and start sending and receiving Luv.
To Your Online Success,
Lonnie Minton
Tagged with: blogging • CommentLuv • DoFollow • Nofollow • plugins
Filed under: blogging
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Disclaimer: Links that are in this post or other posts may lead to one or more of my affiliate links. If you click on them and purchase I will get compensated because I recommended the product(s) to you. Rest assured that I will never recommend anything that I don’t personally believe in. In addition I always welcome your questions and feedback.
I see more and more blogs with Comment Luv but it’s not apparent if they have the no follow plugin. One good way to check is to install the SEO for Firefox plugin. You can then choose to highlight nofollow links right from your browser
Luca´s last blog ..Seven Simple Tips to Stay on Task
What Luca mentioned is why in the top of my sidebar I tell people “We Do Follow”. It does increase commenting.
Mike Paetzold´s last blog ..Resell Rights Fortune Review
You beat me to it Mike (above comment)… I think blog owners should actually announce the fact that you are using the “do follow” plug-in, as it will say that you care about your visitors and are making it easier for them to comment (making it more worth their time).
Joel Osborne´s last blog ..Set Up Your WordPress Plan
As happens with every technology, lazy marketers are still trying to game the search engines for better results, and are now using NoFollow to keep all the page’s link juice for certain links on each page. Recognizing this, the big engines are now looking at ways to prevent this skulduggery from having any effect, and may even stop indexing pages that use NoFollow tags as a result. But even if they don’t, I for one won’t bother to read or comment on no-follow blogs, and a growing number of other busy marketers I know are doing the same. We can only read and interact with so many blogs in a day, so why waste any of it with blogs whose owners aren’t returning the favor?
Doug Champigny´s last blog ..The Affiliate Marketing Formula That Works Best Right Now
Do follow, no follow, I still get confused so I am glad you thought of doing this post to try and clear the air. Nice to know someone is thinking of the little guy and keep them from being confused. Thanks.
Andre Arnett´s last blog ..Resell Rights Fortune Price Increase
I too use CommentLuv and Dofollow on my blogs.
I like Mike and Joel’s suggestion of putting this fact on the blog where it is easily seen by a potential commenter. Will have to go around and fix this on my blogs.
I also tend to shy away from blogs that do not use the DoFollow plug-ins. No point in wasting what little time I do have for no return.
I normally just do a quick view of the page source, but I definitely like the idea of the browser plugin that Luca mentioned to do this quicker.
Brett McEllhiney´s last blog ..Starting Out In Niche Marketing
Do follow can be a great way to liven up your blog, but you must remain insanely vigilant in deleting spam, or your blog will turn into a spammer’s haven. If you see posts like this:
“Excellent article, thank you”
“WOW!”
“Thank you, this informations are very nicely structured.”
You know you’re in the danger zone.
Gareth Jameson´s last blog ..Solar panels
I use keywordluv, Commentluv, and sport a Do-follow plugin. I feel it’s a good trade-off for the interaction!
CommentLuv is a great tool that’s for sure. I used to have it on my blog and I constantly got tons of comments. Do-Follow is another one that really helps as a lot of people take the time to comment since they get some link juice back to their blog/website.