This Blog Has DoFollow Attributes
Good news readers! This blog has been using DoFollow attributes for a couple of days now. Why good news? This gives all of you the chance to use and abuse me all you want. Lol!
For starters, let me introduce to you the concept of Nofollow (the opposite of DoFollow) attributes in the simplest way I know.
Based on my readings, the nofollow attribute was implemented by Google in 2005 for the rel attribute of HTML link and anchor elements, so that website builders and bloggers can make links that Google will not consider for the purposes of PageRank — they are links that no longer constitute a “vote” in the PageRank system. The nofollow relationship was added in an attempt to help combat spamdexing.
As an example, people could create many message-board posts with links to their website to artificially inflate their PageRank. Now, however, the message-board administrator can modify the code to automatically insert “rel=’nofollow’” to all hyperlinks in posts, thus preventing PageRank from being affected by those particular posts.
This method of avoidance, however, also has various drawbacks, such as reducing the link value of actual comments.
In other words the nofollow attribute will instruct search engines like Google and Yahoo NOT to index and score the links a commentator leaves behind a post (i.e., his website URL and links left behind the comment itself).
Now, this largely discourages site visitors to leave a comment or even revisit the site with nofollow attributes knowing that he will not earn a credit for leaving a comment. Let’s face it. We leave comments behind to be recognized. And the only way bloggers can do that when visiting another blog is to leave a comment or comments (with their links in it/them) to be indexed later by search engines.
This is one huge problem I’ve encountered with Blogger users. Perhaps 99% of blogs using blogger have NoFollow attributes because first off, blogger is owned by Google. Hence, it is expected that this is a built-in feature although the NoFollow attributes can be removed from the templates. For WordPress users like me, this Nofollow attribute can easily be removed by either:
1) downloading a NoFollow plug-in; or
2) manually removing the NoFollow attributes in the template. To show you how this is done, take a look at the following:
Removing WordPress rel=nofollow on Authors
For the author link, the line of code is line 48 on wp-includes/comment-template.php. Replace
$return = “<a href=’$url’ rel=’external nofollow’>$author</a>”;
with this:
$return = “<a href=’$url’ rel=’external’>$author</a>”;
For blogger users, that’s another story.
However, the point of discussion is this blog changing its NoFollow attributes to DoFollow. What about it, you may ask? As I said jokingly in the intro, you now have the right to abuse and use this site. It may sound sarcastic but let me clarify my views before you judge my choice of words.
First, since this site changed attributes to DoFollow, spams come are caught by akismet every hour. For today, it caught 25 spam comments. Unlike in the NoFollow attributes, this blog rarely catches spam comments (once per week is not really a bad figure).
Second, I have joined a community of DoFollow advocates. Ironically, these people advocating DoFollow are mostly on NoFollow. Sounds like tongue-in-cheek liars, huh? These are the same people who brag on their sites the “YOU COMMENT, I FOLLOW” badge. Not all of them are unscrupulous though. Some really have DoFollow attributes enabled. But, is this the classic example of a “Do what I tell you but don’t do what I do” syndrome? This site doesn’t even have a badge like that but it keeps the “link juice” flowing to its commentators.
Oh well, I still kept this site on DoFollow mode anyhow. Why? I want to find out myself if this will really encourage more visitors to visit my site. Some said it increased their traffic three fold (3 times, if you didn’t get it). Yes, 3 times! Sounds great and catchy right? Maybe. But maybe not. I’m not saying it’s impossible. What I’m saying is, it is indeed highly possible – but not with turning DoFollow enabled alone. You see, content is truly king. People won’t visit your site because of the ads. Most likely they have it. People won’t visit you for your website themes. I’m sure they have their own. Site visitors, in my view, will always go back to your site if they can at least relate to your posts, more so if they find your posts interesting. However, many people out there just don’t have good intentions. A blogger will always have a gut feeling if the commentator can be his friend or just spamming (despite the fact that he’s leaving a comment related to the topic). This could actually be a good strategy to increase PR in Google, to be honest. But you see, if you know a great deal of mathematics and understand Google’s equation in computing a PR (see wikipedia’s example), you would know that backlinks are not the only variable in the equation. Your visibility on the net by way of writing articles that people will find on search engines, actually read and go back to, will count big time in the algorithm (implicitly).
I won’t be so technical about it because it will take a whole booklet to discuss the subject of PR computation (in a mathematical perspective) based on Google’s algorithm which is little-known and altered everytime (according to some experts, not me). Maybe I will post my own interpretation of the algorithm next time based on my experiences as a professional mathematician in the real world. 
Now, as to DoFollow, people advocating it claim that it will benefit both the blogger and the commentator inasmuch as they will share credits. For the blogger, his pages will be viewed more and for the commentator, he will leave his link behind. Well at least this is the claim.
But pragmatic as we are, this remains to be seen. Opposing views from experts and so-called ‘gurus’ differ. There is actually a silent war among these groups of DoFollow and NoFollow advocates going revolving this issue of linking or allowing links in comments to be indexed by search engines.
In my case, I will just enjoy writing articles that people could enjoy and learn from. I won’t kill myself trying to rationalize the good and bad in using DoFollow. Time will tell if the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages. I will be very glad to tell you first hand if my traffic will hit 10,000 page hits per day after some time. At the moment, I’m not ashamed to tell that this blog only gets an average of around 3,000 page hits per day from 75-100 unique visitors. Who cares?! It’s just well over a month and I’m not rushing to get a PR10.
I would sincerely appreciate it if you can also tell me your experiences in using DoFollow or NoFollow in your blogs. Your comments will be highly valued.
Related readings: JW’s Blog
RELATED POSTS:
So this means I have to check the codes of the blogs I visit if there’s nofollow or not, hehe! I downloaded a dofollow plugin last night but had second thoughts installing it. Ok, kabayan, i’ll check in a few days it this comment will come out on google when i search for my site. Experiment muna me bago i-install yung plugin ko.
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@ marlene,
mhy, not necessarily. you see, there are many blogs out there that we truly like (with or without DoFollow attributes). in my view, the NoFllow/DoFollow attributes are secondary to the things that you can learn and enjoy from reading blogs. for me, it really doesn’t matter… when i like the post, i try to leave a sensible comment. in some i cases, i might not leave a comment but still go back to the blog due to the content and NOT because i can leave a link in the comments box.
in addition to my post, of the 3,000 page hits i get per day, 60% originates from search engines. most of them are on page 1, top 5-10 in the list, whether you believe it or not. this prompts me to believe that the content of your blog will greatly determine your search engine rankings and traffic, not just the links that you leave behind. thus, giving meaning to the phrase “content is king”. based on my analysis of PR computations, the quality AND relevancy of inbound links (backlinks, as others call it) are just a small part and parcel of the whole equation. Search engine rankings weigh heavier because if you’re on the first 10 pages (or first 100 in the list), then it means search engines give more importance to your site or pages, improving and accelerating your chances of increasing PR. it is a complex equation which i will try to deal with and write about in the coming days after careful analysis. for now, what i can say is, go on and do what you enjoy doing. NoFollow or No Nofollow doesn’t really matter much if you have a site nobody wants to visit. it’s a good thing u have a blog many of us want to visit every now and then
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dofollow ba ko? hehehe palagay ko dofollow kasi may link pag nagcocomment sa akin e
tsaka para san ba ang PR na yan hehe heniways like you i dont care basta enjoy ako sa pagbablog ayos na 
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@ joanjoyce,
naka-NoFollow ka, sis…. if you are using Firefox, that’s easy to determine because all you have to do is right-click the link of the commentator, then click Properties and you will see that the rel property of the link is ‘external nofollow’. If you don’t see it, then you’re using DoFollow.
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i have not installed a DOFOLLOW plugins in any of my blogs but I am thinking about it. Right now, I am testing the waters. Once I feel that I got some loyal readers and commentators, I will surely install the dofollow plugin to sort of compensate them for being a regular in my blogsites.
cheers to all of us!
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@ Vienna,
thanks for your comment… that’s a good plan… maybe you should do test the waters to see if others are just spamming you or really like your site. just keep your posts coming and take care!
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@ liudmila,
again, thanks for posting a comment my friend…
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thanks for the visit at my other blog! I’ll certainly add yours at my 2 domains (since bravenet has limited links, I cannot add u there) anyways, i so wanted to have this u comment, i follow thing but I am having a hard time to do so. Will read this back,thanks for posting a very informative entry!
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jps, thanks for replying to my comment and thanks for visiting my blog.
basing on what I’ve read in this blog so far… i’ll think you’ll earn more money in a few months time. i’ll add you in my blogroll so it would be easy for me to go back here again.
lalaingem!
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@ jennyr,
sis, ok lang. as to the “U COMMENT, I FOLLOW” stuff, you may search Google for plugins… there are so many you can choose from. for this site, i’m using NOFOLLOW CASE BY CASE plugin. just download the plugin or any plugin of your choice then put the PHP file in your /wp-content/plugins folder in your web directory… then activate it in the Plugins section, then you’re good to go. i hope this helps. take care!
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@ Vienna,
i was shocked to read your ilocano term “lalaingem”. hehehe.
thanks for your kind words… these simple things are what keeps me working on more sensible posts on my blogs… i hope you’re right… money is tight despite having a real job here in the Philippines. I hope blogging can increase my income.
pls drop by every now and then if u have time… lalaingem met, kailian!
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Hi Jessie! Thanks for sharing this… I think I’m going to try it. I learned a lot from this post.
Happy Tuesday!
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wow, bagong kaalaman na naman ito kuya.
thanks ha!
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@ liza,
thanks for dropping by… i hope my post will prove useful to you in time.
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@ karmi,
ok, no problem… happy blogging and merry xmas!
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Hi Jessie,
I have Do-follow on some of my blogs, and to be honest spamwise, while it’s made some difference, it’s not overwhelming, though you can install certain plugins (like linklove etc) where the person needs to comment x amount of times before the nofollow is removed rather than applying it to every person.
If you’re interested what has bought me in a lot more visitors and commentors is the commentluv plugin (where the last post of the commentors blog is added to the comment)
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I added you in all of my blogrolls (sa limang blogs ko).
Thanks for visiting each one of them. Mabuhay!
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thanks jessie, waaaaa naka nofollow pala ko kala ko dofollow kasi may live links naman si ako e..
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@ Vanessa,
thanks for the info… i might as well try ur plugin at a later time. at the moment, im using a NOFOLLOW CASE BY CASE plugin… i will evaluate it for now. this is a task that requires trial & error so it will take a little time… i love ur plugin though… i see that plugin on other blogs and it’s doing quite well.
more power my friend.
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@ Vienna,
Ur welcome my dear and thank u also for linking me back.
Happy blogging and god bless!
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@ joanjoyce,
yap… if u want to have Dofollow, u can search for a suitable plugin for your site and test if it brings you oodles of traffic.
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hi jesse! sure, let’s exchange links
please add my other blog din ha
http://iamdzoi.com
thanks!
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@joy,
ok no problem… linker is down at the moment, nobody can link to me automatically… pls add my site to ur two blogs also if u have time… thanks
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@ ROB,
that’s your opinion…. but i view it differently. i’m sorry. but i think there’s a great distinction between supporting a movement by just showing a badge on a site from actually doing it… you may find it shocking if other bloggers like myself view this issue the same thing i do. it may be harsh and uncalled for to call them con men but i will not take back my words. a person’s conviction determines his character in life. conning is not confined to heinous crimes alone. call me unfair, call me harsh, i really don’t mind. i look in the mirror everyday looking back at days past if i offended anyone through my deeds. i do what i stand for and my internet activities are not an exemption to this rule that i follow in life. that’s your take. that’s your view. i respect that. i just find it annoying you find my comments harsh. Thank you for sharing your voice as well.
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hi there! i agree with you… dont mind other people’s comment as long as u know what ur saying…
just dropping by…
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Love the post. I’m about to switch over to the DoFollow attribute, because I’ve heard that it will boost your traffic too. And to be honest, the only reason I found your blog is because you rank high for “blogs with dofollow” in google.
Sketch’s last blog post..By: George’s Design
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Just found your blog when I was searching Google. I admire your leap of faith. I myself implemented the DoFollow attribute on my blog and I am currently reaping the benefits of more traffic and higher advertisement earnings.
My advice to people considering DoFollow, it’s worth it. Especially if you want people linking to your blog as well. A lot of people compile lists of DoFollow blogs and if your site is on them you get even more PR for your site.
- Dwayne Charrington.
http://www.dwaynearringon.com
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