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You might have heard about increasing Google page rank with DoFollow Blogs. Before going into how such blogs and websites can help you in increasing your blog or website page rank, lets throw some light on the concept behind DoFollow and NoFollow.
NoFollow is the relationship attribute for hyperlinks in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). HTML is responsible for rendering web pages in web browsers. These attributes tells search engine bots either to follow/crawl the associated Hyperlink or not.
Consider the following commonly used markup for a hyperlink:
<b><a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="yoursite.com/your-post">Your Website</a></b>
Above markup corresponds to a DoFollow link, which means the resulting link will be followed by Search Engine Spiders.
Now, If we put a NoFollow relationship attribute in this markup, the resulting link will not be followed by Search Engine Spiders:
<b><a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="yoursite.com/your-post">rel="nofollow"</em>><b>Your Website</b></a></b>
Note: DoFollow is neither a word nor an HTML attribute, it's just a name given to Blogs or Links, which don't implement NoFollow attributes.
Some people think, using:
<b><em><a rel="dofollow"></em></b> or <b><a rel="follow"></b> with a particular Hyperlink, makes the link followed by Search Engine Bots, but such attributes doesn't exists in reality. Using such wrong attributes may cause a link to appear as SPAM to Search Engine Bots. If you want to make a link followed/crawled (DoFollow), simply don't use any type of relationship attribute with it.
Also Inbound or Internal Links are the Hyperlinks present in a particular page of your Blog/Website, which points to other Posts/Pages present within your Blog/Website, whereas Outbound or External Links are the Hyperlinks present in a particular page of your Blog/Website, which points to Posts/Pages of some other Blog/Website.
Now, it is quite understandable that blogs and websites using no relation attributes in their links are DoFollows.
So, does a DoFollow Blog increases Google PageRank of your website?
People, especially Webmasters, usually search for DoFollow blogs with high PageRank (PR) to submit comments on articles there. It's a basic link-building strategy. Also, Webmasters makes their blog DoFollow in order to increase responses and traffic.
If you're commenting honestly after reading an article, that's fine, but what if you're the one whose own blog is DoFollow? It is a firm belief among Bloggers and Webmasters all over the globe, that DoFollow links may PASS the Google Juice of a blog/page (Decrease PageRank).
Bloggers and webmasters have complete control over allowing or restricting Hyperlink to be followed by Search Engine Bots, in there Posts and Pages. But when it comes to comments, it is the back end (template of the blog), which controls the link relationship behavior (which is nofollow by default). But, It can also be modified by means of some advanced editing or plugin usage.
Here are some Pros and Cons of having a DoFollow Blog:
Pros/Advantages of Having a DoFollow Blog:
- More comments.
- Increased traffic. Hence, increased number of Pageviews and Ad Revenue
- Number of RSS Feed Subscriber will increase dramatically, as they always want to follow your Blog Updates and Comment on them.
- The blog might get a place in DoFollow Blog Directories and Lists.
Cons/Disadvantages of Having a DoFollow Blog:
- Increased number of SPAM comments.
- Less honest responses.
- The link juice of a particular page will be distributed to outbound or external links (which are present in the comments), hence causing (severe) loss in PR.
- Opportunity for selling Text Link Advertisements will be greatly reduced, as the advertiser will be using the Comment Area of your Blog for getting Backlinks for FREE.
Tip: Do not use rel="nofollow" in your inbound links.
How to know if a blog is DoFollow or NoFollow?
Some people announce in their blog posts about the DoFollow nature of their blog, and sometimes they are even able to invite comments on a totally Useless Article.
In order to determine whether a blog is DoFollow or NoFollow in nature, pick up a name of someone who already commented there, view source of that web page and find that name, now see whether the hyperlink tag contains rel="nofollow" or not, if not it's a DoFollow Blog. You can also use Highlight NoFollow links Add-On for Mozilla Firefox to figure out NoFollow links on a blog without even viewing the source.
What should I choose: DoFollow or NoFollow?
A NoFollow Blog is acceptable when you give priority to honest reviews/comments and PR juice first. Those who want more comments as well as traffic (hence increased AdSense and other Ad Network revenue) may use DoFollow blogs on their own risk.
What I prefer: I don't think a DoFollow blog is going to bring you popularity. You can test yourself: Your most of the Top/Regular Commentator will be permanently GONE as soon as you switch your Blog Comment Area to NOFOLLOW.
So, if you're in the Blogosphere to make Good Audience/Loyal Visitors, I will highly recommend you to switch to a NOFOLLOW Blog. Hardly, anyone would like to lose his/her PR.
But then it's completely your own decision.
