It is common knowledge that creating a profile of links from other websites back to your own website should have a positive impact on your Google Page Rank. Of course relevancy and quality should also be considered. In recent years blogging has been a favorite ‘social’ place where blog readers can add a comment after reading a bloggers writings. So, I thought we should take a deeper look at the value of links in blogs and determine if the links really count or not.

For the purposes of this review, I am looking at a WordPress installation. WordPress is one of the most widely used blogwares in use today.

There are effectively four places that a link can be created in a blog. They are as follows;

1. The blogger can create links inside of the articles that they write.
2. The blogger can permanently add a link to their “blog roll”.
3. The visitor can post a comment and include a web address that typically causes their name to become a link.
4. The visitor can add web links into their comments. Typically they will add one or two links as a part of their signature.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Hyperlinks on websites typically give a direct link back to the intended website. Google Bot and other search spiders typically find the links and follow them through and index the second site. With the overwhelming popularity of blogging, people trying to boost their page rank started seizing the opportunity by creating “blog spam”. Blog spam is quite often useless comments added to a blog article with a bunch of links back to the spammers website. As blog spam started to become a huge issue for bloggers as well as search engines a new HTML attribute was created for the “Anchor” of a link (URL).  Welcome the “NOFOLLOW” attribute.

A clean hyperlink will look like this – <a href=”https://www.ekzact.com”>Calgary Web Designer</a>. This link will be followed by the search spiders.

The addition of the “NOFOLLOW” attribute – <a href=”https://www.ekzact.com” rel=”nofollow’>Calgary Web Designer</a> will advise the search bots to not follow the link.

Now Let’s See What Links from WordPress Are Useful

When a visitor posts a comment at the blog they provide a reference link on their “name” or alias of a blog response. Typically this link will be to the responders own website.  Notice the nofollow tag. This link will not be followed by the search engines.

<a href=’https://blog.itsuccessmentor.com’ rel=’external nofollow’>Stuart Crawford</a>

A blog visitor then usually writes useful feedback. The very often will include links in the feedback. While the intention be that the links provide value to the conversation, they are also very often placed by spammers hoping to bolstger their pagerank. Link added by a responded in the response to a blog item are also suppressed by the nofollow attribute.

Example: <a href=”https://blog.itsuccessmentor.com” rel=”nofollow”>https://blog.itsuccessmentor.com</a>

The Blogroll, typically in a side bar of the blog, usually contains links that the blogger places. These typically are links to other websites or resources that the blogger feels are important. These links do not include the nofollow attribute and thus should contribute value to the site that they are linking to.

Example: <a href=”https://www.stuartcrawford.com/” rel=”friend met colleague” title=”His passion is to work with Small Business to ensure that they are successful.”>Stuart R. Crawford</a>

The writing by the blogger in the actual blog article content is also clear of the nofollow attribute and again is of good value to the site that is being linked to by the blogger.

<a href=”https://www.extremetechmakeover.ca/”><strong>Extreme Technology Make Over</strong></a>

What does all of this mean?

• Don’t spam the bloggers blog, with the intention of creating inbound links to your own web pages for pagerank. They are being tagged with the nofollow attribute.
• Do post good comments and engage the blogger. If for no other reason to get some natural visitors to your website. While the search engines don’t ‘follow’, the actual people reading your insight may. By adding value through good comments, the blogger will also likely come to your blog and reciprocate. Furthermore, if you get on the bloggers team, you may make it to the blogroll. Even better, the blogger may write about your blog and link out to you – where the links count!

If you are looking for a Calgary Search Engine Optimization service, here are some points that you should consider that I am quoting directly from Googles website;

Be wary of SEO firms and web consultants or agencies that send you email out of the blue
No one can guarantee #1 ranking on Google
Be careful if a company is secretive or won’t clearly explain what they intend to do.

Remember that owning a website is only one step in a successful online marketing program. Balance your online marketing strategies and you can benefit directly from the targeted traffic that will come to your website.

We have developed a formula for success. I you own a website that is not bringing you new business, or if you are planning a new website – talk to us. We’ll share the program with you and help you to succeed online.

Cheers – Feel free to drop us a note if you would like more information.

David A. West, Director
eKzact Solutions Inc.

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