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More People Spread Link Love With DoFollow

Turns out we’ve got a movement on our hands.

I wrote about removing NoFollow from your blog just about a month ago. Since then more and more people have followed suit. I didn’t start the movement, but it’s nice to be a part of it and push it along.

For those catching up, NoFollow is a tag added automatically to URLs input into comments so that those URLs don’t gain any link love / Google juice from you. It was a means to deter spammers from posting comments to try and boost their URLs search rankings. Of course it didn’t deter spammers at all. And people who comment properly and regularly on your blog weren’t getting as much value as they could from doing so.

Removing NoFollow is extremely easy and there are numerous WordPress plugins for doing so.

What’s particularly interesting about this whole thing is the true movement of people making the switch to DoFollow – inspired by others.

DoFollow iconRanda Clay has made the move, and on top of that she’s created a cool little icon you can put in your sidebar to let people know that you’ve setup DoFollow.

It’s a nice way for bloggers to show they care about the people who comment regularly and add real value. Plus, it’s a great move on Randa’s part to do a little marketing of her own…nice work Randa!

If you haven’t setup DoFollow yet, go for it. Don’t be shy. You won’t get more spam. You won’t have more work to do. At minimum you’ll be helping others. You may also start to see more comments and interesting discussion take place on your blog, which is what it’s all about.

Added Note: Andy Beard just informed me of his No NoFollow I Follow DoFollow Community setup through BUMPzee. I’ve just signed up to show my support for the cause.

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April 13, 2007 Posted in Blogging, Online Community by

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  • Pingback: DoFollow not NoFollow / Web Words / WizarDev

  • http://notesaboveground.blogspot.com Yu Yu

    That’s really cool that this thing is gaining momentum. Besides, a couple of comments won’t spoil your page rank.

  • http://notesaboveground.blogspot.com Yu Yu

    That’s really cool that this thing is gaining momentum. Besides, a couple of comments won’t spoil your page rank.

  • http://essentialkeystrokes.com Char

    Ben – thanks for helping spread the word! I love the logos Randa made.

  • http://essentialkeystrokes.com Char

    Ben – thanks for helping spread the word! I love the logos Randa made.

  • http://www.toplawstudent.com Editor of TopLawStudent.com

    Great idea. I followed your advice and removed the no-follow tag. It will be interesting to see if no-follow sites become bigger targets for comment spam, but I’m willing to try, because it makes sense to reward visitors with useful comments.

  • http://www.toplawstudent.com Editor of TopLawStudent.com

    Great idea. I followed your advice and removed the no-follow tag. It will be interesting to see if no-follow sites become bigger targets for comment spam, but I’m willing to try, because it makes sense to reward visitors with useful comments.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    I really wouldn’t worry about more comment spam, just not going to happen. And even if it does Akismet or Spam Karma can handle it fairly well. Enough that the benefits outweigh the risks.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    I really wouldn’t worry about more comment spam, just not going to happen. And even if it does Akismet or Spam Karma can handle it fairly well. Enough that the benefits outweigh the risks.

  • http://www.lifeisrisky.com Susan

    I agree that DoFollow helps increase comments and I am all for rewarding commenters regardless if they comment once or twenty times in a month. I am actually running a challenge to help promote blogs that use DoFollow over at the DoFollow Pingback Challenge so if you have a minute and can pop over I would appreciate it.

  • http://www.lifeisrisky.com Susan

    I agree that DoFollow helps increase comments and I am all for rewarding commenters regardless if they comment once or twenty times in a month. I am actually running a challenge to help promote blogs that use DoFollow over at the DoFollow Pingback Challenge so if you have a minute and can pop over I would appreciate it.

  • http://www.everydayweekender.com Everyday Weekender

    i’d have to agree.. i don’t think there are too many cons with this dofollow.

  • http://www.everydayweekender.com Everyday Weekender

    i’d have to agree.. i don’t think there are too many cons with this dofollow.

  • http://www.mathworksheetwizard.com Math Worksheets

    You might get more people leaving comments with their desired anchor text as their name, but as long as they contribute to the discussion then there shouldn’t be a problem.

    I’m using the DoFollow plugin on my blog Nice4Rice.com, and also use one of Randa’s icons to let people know. This DoFollow movement is really picking up pace.

  • http://www.mathworksheetwizard.com Math Worksheets

    You might get more people leaving comments with their desired anchor text as their name, but as long as they contribute to the discussion then there shouldn’t be a problem.

    I’m using the DoFollow plugin on my blog Nice4Rice.com, and also use one of Randa’s icons to let people know. This DoFollow movement is really picking up pace.

  • Pingback: The Instigator Blog « Nice4Rice

  • http://www.fruitengine.com Fruit Engine

    I agree, the pros of disabling the nofollow plug (gives people more reasons to comment properly, improves pagerank, eternally-grateful readers and comment-posters) definitely outweighs the cons.

    Hope more bloggers follow your example.

  • http://www.fruitengine.com Fruit Engine

    I agree, the pros of disabling the nofollow plug (gives people more reasons to comment properly, improves pagerank, eternally-grateful readers and comment-posters) definitely outweighs the cons.

    Hope more bloggers follow your example.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Fruit Engine – I think the movement for DoFollow will grow over time. I wouldn’t be surprised if future versions of blogging software did away with the automatic NoFollow or even created a toggle. That’d make perfect sense, just build the functionality right into something like WordPress.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Fruit Engine – I think the movement for DoFollow will grow over time. I wouldn’t be surprised if future versions of blogging software did away with the automatic NoFollow or even created a toggle. That’d make perfect sense, just build the functionality right into something like WordPress.

  • http://www.communityspark.com/ Community Building Blog

    I couldn’t agree more; my blog has been ‘link love enabled’ from the outset. I have consequently reaped the rewards of rewarding contributors to my blog. Everyone is happy :)

    - Martin Reed

  • http://www.communityspark.com/ Community Building Blog

    I couldn’t agree more; my blog has been ‘link love enabled’ from the outset. I have consequently reaped the rewards of rewarding contributors to my blog. Everyone is happy :)

    - Martin Reed

  • Pingback: Blogging tip: Turn off nofollow in your comments » Really Smart Guy » GeekSpeak, Real Estate, Landlording, Technology, Business Ideas, Web Marketing » Blog Archive

  • http://madeshia.com/ gautam

    thanks for posting this information. I have seem many people taking away nofollow from there blogs.

    i am using wp in my blogs and i will try to remove the no follow from my blogs too. probably will have to edit the php files .. :(

  • http://madeshia.com/ gautam

    thanks for posting this information. I have seem many people taking away nofollow from there blogs.

    i am using wp in my blogs and i will try to remove the no follow from my blogs too. probably will have to edit the php files .. :(

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Gautam,

    If you’re using WordPress on your own servers then install one of the plugins. It’s easy and doesn’t require any hacking around in PHP code.

    If you’re using the WordPress.com hosted service then you can’t hack around with PHP code anyway…

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Gautam,

    If you’re using WordPress on your own servers then install one of the plugins. It’s easy and doesn’t require any hacking around in PHP code.

    If you’re using the WordPress.com hosted service then you can’t hack around with PHP code anyway…

  • http://madeshia.com/ gautam

    yay..no editing of php. i just installed a plugin and everything is working fine :)

    cheers !

  • http://madeshia.com/ gautam

    yay..no editing of php. i just installed a plugin and everything is working fine :)

    cheers !

  • http://www.modernmagellans.com Roger Anderson

    Ben,
    I came here after reading Wendy’s blog – followed the link – and I was wondering if you still feel as you did when you said:

    “I really wouldn’t worry about more comment spam, just not going to happen.”

    Clearly it does but maybe not that much. I am new to this so I don’t get any spam.

  • http://www.modernmagellans.com Roger Anderson

    Ben,
    I came here after reading Wendy’s blog – followed the link – and I was wondering if you still feel as you did when you said:

    “I really wouldn’t worry about more comment spam, just not going to happen.”

    Clearly it does but maybe not that much. I am new to this so I don’t get any spam.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Roger,

    I don’t think I’ve been getting more comment spam because I removed NoFollow. As a blog grows in popularity it’s going to get more spam or questionable comments no matter what.

    And even if there’s a small increase that could be attributed to removing NoFollow, the links and positivity you get back from others more than makes up for it.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    Roger,

    I don’t think I’ve been getting more comment spam because I removed NoFollow. As a blog grows in popularity it’s going to get more spam or questionable comments no matter what.

    And even if there’s a small increase that could be attributed to removing NoFollow, the links and positivity you get back from others more than makes up for it.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

  • Cade @ Write To Right

    I have to say that this is such a great plugin. I have to say that this gives so much power for bloggers to communicate so well. I think we can learn faster and create so much more thanks to the need to communicate more.

  • http://writetoright Cade @ Write To Right

    I have to say that this is such a great plugin. I have to say that this gives so much power for bloggers to communicate so well. I think we can learn faster and create so much more thanks to the need to communicate more.

  • http://www.espime.com.my Web Presence

    I agree that do follow should be the way to go! Not only it gives a little morale boost to the blog poster but every now and then people post some great comments which in return they get some link love. :)

  • http://www.vandelaydesign.com Steven Snell

    I agree. I’ve done the same to my blog.

  • http://www.vandelaydesign.com Steven Snell

    I agree. I’ve done the same to my blog.

  • Pingback: Combat DoFollow spammers using this WordPress Plugin :: David Airey :: Graphic Designer

  • http://www.beetlejuiceonline.com Beetlejuice

    I agree. If someone is good enough to leave a relevant comment on my blog, they deserve a link back. The whole point of the dofollow movement is to allow relevant comments and weed out spammers.

  • http://www.beetlejuiceonline.com Beetlejuice

    I agree. If someone is good enough to leave a relevant comment on my blog, they deserve a link back. The whole point of the dofollow movement is to allow relevant comments and weed out spammers.

  • Pingback: Designers on Design » Blog Archive » Combat DoFollow spammers using this WordPress Plugin

  • http://www.bapestas.net Bape

    Its ironic that many bloggers talk about this but then they actually use no follow.

  • http://www.bapestas.net Bape

    Its ironic that many bloggers talk about this but then they actually use no follow.

  • http://www.usimprints.com Tim

    A “nofollow” Internet makes for a cold, lifeless Internet. Let’s hope others follow suit.

  • http://www.usimprints.com Tim

    A “nofollow” Internet makes for a cold, lifeless Internet. Let’s hope others follow suit.

  • http://blog.bluefrogx.com bLuefRogX

    Its a nice concept, but it also leads to increased ‘spam’ with comments like ‘Good Job’ or ‘Nice blog’ that are not actually relevant to the post, but are just there because the poster saw a ‘DoFollow’ badge on the blog and wanted a backlink.

    I suppose you could call this a double edged sword, it’d definitely get your more comments, but also increase your moderation work.

  • http://blog.bluefrogx.com bLuefRogX

    Its a nice concept, but it also leads to increased ‘spam’ with comments like ‘Good Job’ or ‘Nice blog’ that are not actually relevant to the post, but are just there because the poster saw a ‘DoFollow’ badge on the blog and wanted a backlink.

    I suppose you could call this a double edged sword, it’d definitely get your more comments, but also increase your moderation work.

  • http://www.instigatorblog.com Ben Yoskovitz

    I’m not getting too many more “good job” comments, but I am getting people using the Name field for something SEO specific, which is OK in some cases, but I’m getting more and more frustrated with.

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About Ben Yoskovitz
I recently joined GoInstant as VP Product. GoInstant changes how we use the web, making it shareable like never before.

I'm also a Founding Partner at Year One Labs, an early stage accelerator in Montreal. Previously I founded Standout Jobs (and sold it). I'm a hands-on startup guy, helping companies grow successfully from the idea forward. You can reach me at byosko at gmail dot com.

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