Comments DoFollow
A while ago I read a post in Andy Beards Blog about how most blog’s platforms have “nofollow” set as standard for comments and trackbacks.
What this means is that there is a tag added to the link code which tells Google not to send a spider to index the destination of the link. So while a reader can follow the link, Google doesn’t give the target site any PR credit, like it does with ordinary links.
This feature was originally implemented to stop comment spam.
Part of the fun in blogging and the value of a website is the injection of view-points and ideas from many different sources. While nofollow does help a little with spam prevention, it also stifles a lot of other commentary.
With the nofollow in place, there is less of an incentive for other bloggers to express their opinions and add useful information to your blog.
Largely as a result of Andy’s ongoing encouragement a number of bloggers are now removing nofollow from comments and trackbacks.
If you have WordPress it is easy to do. Just install the dofollow plugin and the job is done. For more information on a number of other options just go here.
There are a few lists of blogs which have removed nofollow. Probably the best is the one at CourtneyTuttle.com.
Courtney publishes the D-List , a list of blogs which have removed the no-follow from their comments. At the time of writing the list had about 170 entries.
At each of the blogs in the D-List you can leave a comment which will count as a real link back to your site. That is of course if the publisher approves it. So if you are looking to get 170 quick links, be sure to leave an in topic and meaning-full comment or it will be rejected.
This blog has the dofollow plugin installed and it is listed in the D-List. Since the change there has been an increased use of comments, slightly higher RSS subscriptions and a steady trickle of fresh traffic from the list.
The D-List is another small but steady traffic source and will provide an excellent source of free backlinks.
There is also a community of called No Nofollow | I Follow | Do Follow over at bumpzee.com which was opened by Andy Beard a few months ago.
A number of bloggers display a dofollow logo like the one at the bottom of this post. There are more logos over at RandaClay.com
If you own a blog check out the links above and give consideration to removing the no-follow from your comments also.
Posted: May 19th, 2007 under Resources.
Comments: 14
Comments
Comment from Fabian
Time: May 27, 2007, 9:14 pm
I follow the link in comments on my blog!
Comment from website copywriter
Time: May 30, 2007, 9:50 am
There have been mixed opinions about no-follow. I do recognize the benefits of no-follow, but I still feel that do-follow promotes a lot of link love and builds readership communities better.
Comment from Manila Mom
Time: June 5, 2007, 9:04 am
DoFollow has done wonders for my blog. Manila Mom is just littlemore than two months old and it already landed as #92 in the Top 100 Philippine Blogs of Ratified.org.
DoFollow benefits one’s blog, most definitely, as it benefits one’s commentators.
Comment from Case Stevens
Time: June 8, 2007, 10:16 pm
Congratulations and welcome to the club.
Let me add, that the NoFollow feature in comments is used for the wrong reasons, namely fighting spam.
Yes, there IS a lot of comment spam, but we should fight that with anti-spam measures. NoFollow is the wrong one, because it punished valuable contributors to your content.
Glad you decided to do this.
It rewards those who take the effort to make you and your website better.
After all, links are what make the Internet tick, isn’t it?
Regards,
Case
Comment from Victor Franqui
Time: June 11, 2007, 12:36 am
I totally agree also the more comments that are on a site the more non duplicate content you have it is a win win situation the visiting webmaster gets the link in and the Blogger gets more content for Google to spider
Comment from shaz
Time: June 12, 2007, 5:03 am
great stuff ive also joined and am checking out the bloggs in andys community
Comment from Medicus Man
Time: July 11, 2007, 1:01 am
It’s crazy how the linkjuice spin got everyone to do Google’s work for them. Who says all those outgoing links in comments are a bad thing - isn’t what the web is all about? Wouldn’t I want to see websites of people passionate enough to comment about my stuff. Haven’t they ever heard of akismet?
Comment from korabi
Time: July 17, 2007, 5:41 pm
I do agree that remove the nofollow is a good intention, but I worry this will also attract more spammers leaving spam on my site.
Comment from Budi Febrianto
Time: July 18, 2007, 8:44 am
so as default wordpress will add nofolow tag in comments?
and install the plugin the only options?
Comment from Brian
Time: July 18, 2007, 9:42 am
Yes Budi that is correct the default is no-follow
Comment from Paul
Time: July 26, 2007, 4:27 am
I totally agree that dofollow’s will definitely help a blog’s interaction between visitors and encourage users to make a useful and insightful post.
Comment from John
Time: July 30, 2007, 12:04 am
Webmasters should moderate dofollow comments ;)
Comment from Do Follow Tool
Time: August 3, 2007, 7:33 pm
I think DoFollow is an excellent way to build content through comments. It gives readers an incentive to write something constructive. If you want to find blogs that have DoFollow, check out my new Do Follow Keyword Search tool that searches a huge list of DoFollow websites, and lets you target keywords to make sure you are getting juicy links when you comment.
Comment from Pick my Click
Time: January 7, 2008, 11:27 am
I’m using dofollow on my blogs for a simple reason: While loads spam can be annoying to moderate, I still believe it’s worth to incentive and reward quality comments.
I’m always surprised why people choose a blog as platform to publish content if they don’t really want loads of visitor interaction. Discussions are an essential part of blogging and distinct a blog from other types of websites.
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