We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
to any other opensocial tags?
I think according to it's original purpose you should use nofollow to
prevent comment/user generated spamming- with the only goal to boost
SE rankings.
So it is for your own protection- not to have be stuffed with
worthless/irrelevant content. In cases where there is no danger of
spamming (areas under editorial control or under trusted user control)
why should you use nofollow? Probably links appear because they are
evaluated to be useful.
> We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
> own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
> tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
> using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
> OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
> However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
> neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
> How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
> of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
> to any other opensocial tags?
> We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
> own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
> tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
> using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
> OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
> However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
> neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
> How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
> of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
> to any other opensocial tags?
There are no specific guidelines as to values that are acceptable
except a few.
You can use anything there, no browser will croak, no robot will care
until you use a value they recognize and then it is taken into
consideration.
For <link .. > tags in the head you have a few rel values that
represent specific things, like stylesheet, icon, whatever.
For <a ...> tags in the body of the page only nofollow has any meaning
and then it only has it for Googlebot.
Any other values you use have to be programmed elsewhere into an
application that makes use of them..
I use "external" and this goes together with a script I have that
opens such a link in a new window. I use that because under xhtml
strict you may not use the target attribute. This is a workaround. I
can also graft on this the use of a small graphic to signal a new
window, or whatever I want to program it as.
The point I'm making is when you use rel="friend" this by itself is
totally meaningless. Google and all search engine robots will totally
ignore it.
The may be an application that makes use of it, at least a script
used on the site which does something special when it sees
rel="friend" - according to how it was programmed.
There are no right or wrong values for the rel attribute.
> Is it possible to do something like rel="nofollow friend"?
> On Aug 14, 2:31 pm, xgene wrote:
> > We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
> > own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
> > tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
> > using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
> > OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
> > However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
> > neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
> > How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
> > of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
> > to any other opensocial tags?- Masquer le texte des messages précédents -
I think you should post the no follow on all paid links. The rest is
debatable and as BBdeath pointed out, it a good cya for your own
protection. Webado, what are some of the different ones out there that
are recognized besides the nofollow for links? Just curious.
> We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
> own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
> tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
> using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
> OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
> However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
> neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
> How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
> of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
> to any other opensocial tags?
Something else for specifically linked pages but I am not familiar
enough with them. start, previous, next, end I believe. Not sure of
the words either.
> I think you should post the no follow on all paid links. The rest is
> debatable and as BBdeath pointed out, it a good cya for your own
> protection. Webado, what are some of the different ones out there that
> are recognized besides the nofollow for links? Just curious.
> On Aug 14, 1:31 pm, xgene wrote:
> > We are developing OpenSocial applications where users can add their
> > own links. Normally, in a blog or similar we would add rel="nofollow"
> > tags to all these links. However, in the OpenSocial world we are
> > using, or would like to use, some of the tagging recommended by
> > OpenSocial (rel="friend" for example).
> > However, we are concerned that this could end up putting us in a bad
> > neighborhood and we end up being penalized.
> > How does Google deal with tags other than rel="nofollow" for purposes
> > of ranking? Should we put "nofollow" tags on all the links in addition
> > to any other opensocial tags?- Hide quoted text -
It looks like you're already getting some great advice, thanks
everyone!
I just wanted to add a short comment -- yes, it is possible to use
rel="nofollow friend" and we will generally find the "nofollow" part
on a link that has an attribute like that.
> It looks like you're already getting some great advice, thanks
> everyone!
> I just wanted to add a short comment -- yes, it is possible to use
> rel="nofollow friend" and we will generally find the "nofollow" part
> on a link that has an attribute like that.
Well it could mean that that link won't pass PR and Google won't
follow it, but they will still recognize the target URL is related to
the page as a friend.
> so what does that mean then? "nofollow friend"? that you won't
> follow it? what does "friend" mean?
> On Aug 15, 2:41 am, JohnMu wrote:
> > Hi developdaly and welcome to the groups!
> > It looks like you're already getting some great advice, thanks
> > everyone!
> > I just wanted to add a short comment -- yes, it is possible to use
> > rel="nofollow friend" and we will generally find the "nofollow" part
> > on a link that has an attribute like that.
In HTML the attributes can have different, independent values
separated by a space. In the case of rel="nofollow friend", we will
recognize the "nofollow" part and ignore the rest. You could provide a
whole list of values, we'll just pick out whether or not there is a
"nofollow" listed as well :). Some sites might use CSS to display some
kinds of links differently, sometimes based on different rel-values.
OK, then. Appending multiple attributes in the tag allows us to both
establish the relationship for purposes of OpenSocial applications
while still keeping our noses clean for Google search.
That answers my question.
