A Fable Do Follow and Comments

July 20th, 2007 · 56 Comments

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Dinner Fork There is a story told of heaven and hell being exactly alike.

There are large banquet tables set with every kind of food and desert imaginable. Everyone has a fork in their hand that can’t be removed or repositioned. The Fork is so long you can’t put it in your mouth.

The scene in hell; everyone is stabbing food and trying to somehow feed themselves with this great food stuck on the end of a very long fork.

The scene in heaven; everyone is using their fork to get food for the person across the table from them. They can use their fork to feed others but not themselves.

In heaven everyone gets fed. In hell no matter how hard they try no one gets fed.

I wrote earlier this week about the new blog experiment I was doing in our market. To make it worth while reading I threw in some things that I thought would interest other bloggers.

gold nugget I also realize that some just won’t take the time to find the nugget of gold in the middle of the post. Here it is dusted off and shining bright. I didn’t want this to get lost.

Posts with Comments

I’ve noticed on the blogs I author and track that post without comments can move quickly to supplemental results and right out of the Google index. However, posts with comments tend to stay in the active index much longer and some almost indefinitely.

If you find a post you really like or just one you would like to see others read leave a comment. And I’m not talking about “Great Post” or “I love your blog”. Providing a good comment just might help a fellow blogger keep their post on the web. We all know we should write for our readers and not the search engines. The reality is if we aren’t indexed by the search engines our readers can’t find our posts.

Post with Contextual Links

The second thing I’ve noticed that helps keep post in the Google index are those containing links that are contextual to the post. It means you are giving away a link to another blog. It is often called link love because these contextual links are the best kind of back-link to get from another blog or website.

Share the link love and keep your posts in the index.

Do-Follow Plug-in

This plug-in It will disable the automatic rel="nofollow"attributes added to external links. Meaning when someone leaves a comment on your blog and they fill in their URL they will get a back-link from your blog post.

Of course we should all have control over the spam comments that come to our site. I still moderate all comments before they go live. Even with Askiment and a spam filter activated. I also have the do-follow plugin on all my blogs. I’ve not told anyone this until now but I think I’m going to start, Oh, I guess I just did.

Here is the link to find the do-follow plugin.

In the options panel of the plugin you can set the number of days for the comment before the no follow is removed. I personally like it set to zero, if someone takes the time to comment on the blog and provide their valid URL, I’m glad to provide them a link back to their site.

We can all help each other out.

Leave comments on others blogs
Put quality contextual links in your posts
Activate the Do-Follow plugin on your blog

Before you know it instead of all of us going hungry, we all get fed.

In case you didn’t know it. Back-links are a major part of Google PageRank. Share the Link Love, improve your PageRank, which improves your position in the organics. To borrow a phrase from Athol Kay “You’ve Been Fed”.

I’d rather be in blogger heaven than blogger hell, how about you?

56 responses so far ↓

1 Athol Kay // Jul 21, 2007 at 8:37 am

Someone linked to me! I came and visited the site! It’s like you rubbed my lamp!

Thats the other good reason to link love.
2 John L. Wake - Realtor // Jul 21, 2007 at 12:36 pm

I had no idea. So I just checked and sure enough Wordpress adds to the comments website link “rel=’external nofollow’.”

Askimet is doing a great job of cutting out the spam. I delete by hand any spam comments that get though.

I’ll try the “Follow” plug in. If it doesn’t encourage spam comments, there’s no down side. Most the the people who comment on my blogs are my blog friends or potential clients.
3 Teresa Boardman // Jul 21, 2007 at 2:14 pm

I thought I would leave a comment on this. Thanks for doig the research and writing the post. We have to write for our readers and google too.
4 Dave Smith // Jul 21, 2007 at 4:23 pm

Athol, Glad a little link love got you to the lab. Come back often.

John, it shouldn’t encourage spam and askimet will still trap it if it does.

T, I think first should always be the readers, then we do what we can to keep it around for them to read. Glad you’re back. Sounds like quite the whirlwind trip.
5 John L. Wake - Realtor // Jul 21, 2007 at 4:38 pm

I had some trouble with that plug-in. I don’t know why. I got bored and found a list of similar plug-ins. Andy Beard Ultimate List of Dofollow Plugins

“Link Love” looks good because you can change the code directly so it removes the nofollow after a commenter has made X comments.

I choose, however, “GoodLinks” because it could also shorten the displayed link. I had a problem with long links (aren’t all blog links long?) running wild and stretching across the entire entry column, the entire right column and off into space. UGLY!
6 Dave Smith // Jul 21, 2007 at 4:52 pm

John,

Thanks for the information. I’ve got do-follow on 4 blogs and haven’t had any issues with it. I’ve just downloaded GoodLinks and will take it for a spin.

I have a few of those off into space. I usually go in and edit the comment and give it a name so the url is hidden, but works.
7 FSBO Louisville // Jul 21, 2007 at 7:55 pm

Great post, I really liked your story about forks and heaven and hell. I would also much rather be in blog heaven than blog hell. Thanks again!
8 Todd Carpenter // Jul 22, 2007 at 10:21 pm

That’s cool Dave. I just added it to RBF. I decided to put a one day waiting period since I’m not moderating the posts before they publish.
9 Jay Thompson // Jul 24, 2007 at 6:26 pm

John (and others) - a *great* plug in that fixes the “long URL problem” (as ably demonstrated in comment #5 above) is “Chunk URL”….
10 Eric Blackwell // Aug 7, 2007 at 4:38 am

Hey Dave…

Your analogy about heaven and hell is spot on. There is Karma out here on the web. As a rule, i use do follow on all of my blogs.

Interesting to note that Matt Cutts does too.

Best to you in Tucson

Eric
11 Ryan Russo // Aug 7, 2007 at 1:58 pm

Thanks for the help. I’m definitely going to do this with my new blog I’m about to set up.
12 Dave Smith // Aug 7, 2007 at 2:07 pm

Hey Eric,

Good to hear from you. I like the idea of do follow very much. I didn’t realize Wordpress had it turned off, but it makes sense especially with so many spam comments out there.

Hope you’re having a good summer.
13 Malok // Aug 16, 2007 at 4:46 pm

I like that philosophy. Everyone helping each other out with their efforts.

Now I need to get some help on how to get it implemented in my blog (I’m somewhat a computer newbie).
14 Eric Bramlett // Sep 24, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Hey Dave - great post. I love the heaven/hell analogy. I’ve recently taken my blog “do-follow” & I really like the level of participation that it’s now seeing. I have seen a ton of “one-time posters” that like to leave borderline “me-too” comments. Rather than try & play judge/jury over the worth of their comments, I installed Lucia’s Linky Love - now I have it set that you have to comment 3 times before your links go to “do-follow.”

Anyways - great blog - I’ll definitely start checking back.
15 Dave Smith // Sep 24, 2007 at 2:06 pm

Eric,

That sounds like a good option for the do-follow.

Here is the link to Lucia’s Linky Love Plugin.
16 Todd Carpenter // Sep 24, 2007 at 2:11 pm

I just set wordpress up to require moderation for first time posters. It’s in the options menu. Once there a post is approved, they can post all they want. It seems to be enough to keep comment spammers at bay.
17 Dave Smith // Sep 24, 2007 at 2:17 pm

Todd,

That is exactly what I do. And if it is just a “Great Post” is gets spammed which means they are still first time commenters.
18 Athol Kay // Sep 24, 2007 at 4:49 pm

It’s the track backs from someone splogging that drives me nuts.
19 Dave Smith // Sep 24, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Athol,

I must not be splog bait, I don’t think I every get track backs from splogs or otherwise come to think of it.

I’ll have to look, but I don’t remember ever seeing a single track back. Hard to believe I have something set wrong on every blog.

Probably that I”m just not quoted : )
20 Paul's Arizona new homes // Oct 22, 2007 at 8:34 pm

I was wondering how does this do follow thing work. I have been hearing about it from some friends of mine. They say if you are going to blog, blog on do follow sites. Why?
21 Dave Smith // Oct 22, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Paul,

When you submit a comment you are asked to provide a URL, this is usually your blog. However, in a standard wordpress setup that link as a command to bots called “no follow” which means don’t follow this link. When the bots don’t follow the link you get no “juice” or credit for the link.
When a blog or website uses a do follow plugin it removes the No Follow tag from your link and you get a link back to your site for each comment you leave.

That is how it works.

As to the advice you have received. It is poor advise, comment where ever you would comment and consider a do follow a bonus link. Searching out blogs with a do follow and commenting on them is not what the do follow is for. I put the do follow into place on all my blogs to provide “link love” for those that have taken the time to contribute to the discussion and provide further information for other readers. It is a “bonus” for a contribution rendered.

Thanks for stopping by the Lab. I hope you will find many answers and helpful hint in the future.
22 Paul's Arizona new homes // Oct 23, 2007 at 12:35 pm

Thank you for the advice. I like that you where quick to respond to it as well. I appreciate the fact that you care about the people who comment on your blogs. I will be visiting a lot! Thank you for the “link love!”?
23 Dave Smith // Oct 23, 2007 at 1:48 pm

Paul,

Glad to be of help. You are always welcome at the lab.
24 Scott Ficek // Oct 31, 2007 at 10:50 am

Dave-
I read somewhere (I thought here on Realestate bloglab) that there was a Firefox plug in that highlighted no follow links. I searched the Firefox site and installed something, but I don’t think it is working. Do you know where I can find this?
25 Eric Bramlett // Oct 31, 2007 at 10:52 am

I modified my stylesheet to make mine work, but I just searched & found this plug-in. Let us know how it works out…

http://www.zacharyfox.com/blog/free-tools/nodofollow-a-firefox-extension
26 Dave Smith // Oct 31, 2007 at 11:12 am

Scott,

I remember reading something about it, but never looked for it.

Later,

Ok, I looked for it found it at http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2005-01-19-n34.html did it. Nothing.

A much easier way if you want to find the no-follow, is to right click on the page, view source and search for “follow”.

But I’m not sure why you would want to take the time to bother, unless you are checking links back to you that are supposed to be active with a no-follow in it.

Since Google now is down on link exchange or paid links why take the time.
27 Eric Blackwell // Oct 31, 2007 at 11:37 am

Here’s the one I use and it works fine…

http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/seo-for-firefox.html

There is a simple settings change in your Firefox browser’s css that will do it. The advantage of using the seobook one is that when you do a google search with this plugin it will also show you a LOT of SEO related characteristics about your competitors PLUS the no follows. Happy Halloween!
28 Eric Blackwell // Oct 31, 2007 at 11:39 am

http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/seo-for-firefox.html

There’s link to the best one I have used…in addition to the no follows it does competitive research FOR you when you google a search. Happy Halloween!
29 Eric Blackwell // Oct 31, 2007 at 11:50 am

Scott

Check this link out:

http://tools.seobook(.)com/firefox/seo-for-firefox(.)html

I put parentheses around the “dots” because it would not take my comment otherwise.

Advantage of this plugin is that you can do awesome competitive research with Google searches as well…also track no follows

Best

Eric
30 Dave Smith // Oct 31, 2007 at 12:25 pm

It looks like Eric B has a link for you that will do what you are looking for Scott.

I went to the site but decided not to install.
31 Eric Bramlett // Oct 31, 2007 at 12:25 pm

Dave -

The plug-in (or modified stylesheet) is actually really killer, if you’re an SEO. It makes you really aware of what’s no-followed & what’s not.
32 Eric Blackwell // Oct 31, 2007 at 12:55 pm

Trying to post the link to it Dave, but no dice…is the HTML the issue?

Best

Eric
33 Paul Escobedo // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:06 pm

When using seofirefox, how do I check to make sure that I am on a do follow?
34 Eric Bramlett // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:09 pm

If the link is no-follow, it will be highlighted in reddish/pink.
35 Eric Blackwell // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:18 pm

simply go to your site…if the links show up in bright red, then they are no follows if they do not, then they are do followed.

Best

Eric
36 Malok // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:53 pm

If you don’t see the link/anchor text highlighted, it means it follows.
37 Paul Escobedo // Oct 31, 2007 at 4:14 pm

Thank you!
38 Scott Ficek // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:13 pm

Thanks Eric. I took a look at that tool. Boy that thing is really a major power tool. I installed it. You’re right, turn it off if you are casually browsing!

I did find a lower tech plugin from the FireFox website that is called SearchStatus. It just adds the PageRank, Alexa, and Compete.

It also allows you to turn on highlighting of all no follows. As I am commenting around the internet (I swear Dave talked about it here), I am now more aware of which blogs have no follow turned off. This plug-in gives me a purple highlight if it is still on.

Thanks so much.
39 Eric Blackwell // Nov 1, 2007 at 1:26 am

No problem Scott…

FTR- I don’t EVER casually browse–grin…

Another note-my favorite part of that tool is Y! links…

Addtl note-sorry for the multiple comments above. My comments were hitting Dave’s spam filter, so I posted multiple times. Won’t be doing that again!

BTW-Just wisited your blog Scott. Really like that. Kudos.
40 Scott Ficek // Nov 1, 2007 at 5:22 am

I thought that may be going on when I saw 8 responses from you!

Thanks for checking out my site. I am continuing to evolve it.
41 Dan // Nov 3, 2007 at 1:10 pm

This is actually really interesting. There is a positive correlation between postings staying in the index longer and comments for those postings. Do you think having the no-follow default in wordpress could potentially hurt ranking because Google thinks those that are commenting are not providing links?
42 Dave Smith // Nov 3, 2007 at 1:24 pm

Dan,

Not in this case. The no follow tag is very useful. It is used many times when you don’t want the bots to follow the link. There are some pages you don’t want them on, and it is a good way to tell them “I don’t want this in the index” so for that reason google would never impose a penalty for a link with a no follow or a site using them.
43 Holly White Nashville // Jan 15, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Awesome article about heaven and hell, and it’s so true. And I can relate to my own personal real estate sales as I find myself getting busy running around in circles selling when I really should be spending more time building my team. I am going to add the do follow plug-in and hope to help someone else out there! Thanks for the tip!
44 Dave Smith // Jan 15, 2008 at 4:12 pm

Holly,

Thank you. I think the do follow is a great plugin and I like spreading the “link love” as they say.
45 James Boyer // Jan 29, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Great information, I am noticing some of the same things on my blog as well. Posts that have comments on them rank much better than posts that have no comments.
46 Mike Brown // Feb 3, 2008 at 2:14 am

Dave, thanks for the info. I took what I learned here and threw together my own do-follow blog. I’ve also thrown together my own U comment - I follow Icons that you can see at deretiree dot com/activeadult-news/mike-follow.png

The blog is at deretiree dot com/activeadult-news/ if anyone wants to take a look.
47 Social Media Success | SEO Diva // Feb 13, 2008 at 9:48 pm

[...] blog article from July of ‘07 titled A Fable Do Follow and Comments (Real Estate Blog Lab) talks about being helpful toward others and how it will benefit you: [...]
48 Monica Livingstone // May 13, 2008 at 11:40 am

Many thanks by the post man! it was a great post. I downloaded some of your indications and I am waiting to see if I get some better results in get links.
49 Dave Smith // May 13, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Monica,

It takes time. Your blog is very new. Don’t get discouraged. Keep posting, stay enthusiastic. It was over 6 months before I started getting comments.
50 Athol Kay // May 13, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Is Monica’s blog really a blog? Just seems like an advertising trap with content lifted wholesale from Wikipedia.
51 Eric Blackwell // May 13, 2008 at 1:28 pm

@Athol-
Spot on.
Methinks Monica may be a spammer, my friend. (not accusation–just observation)

Eric
52 Dave Smith // May 13, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Athol,
Eric,

Geez, and on a day when I was feeling generous. It does have that look, now I suppose I need to go take down the comment, or maybe leave it and kill the link.

You guys are too much, I mean that in a good way : )
53 Monica Livingstone // May 13, 2008 at 2:39 pm

My blog is not fake. It is my college work. My brother set it up for me in a free host that fulled it with ads. And I don’t have money to waste with a college work!
54 Dave Smith // May 13, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Monica,

You blog isn’t fake. It is real. But here are the questions.

Where does the content for your posts come from? Do you write those posts or copy and past the information from some place else?

The images in your post, where to they come from? Did you take the photos? Were they in the public domain if not?

If you didn’t write the content and you didn’t take the images then it is what is called a “Spam Site” meaning content/images stolen from others and put on a blog with ads.

This is what Eric and Athol are referring to in their comments. Since the ads are obvious and the content does not appear to be original it falls in the “Spammer” site description which is not what you want.

This isn’t free hosting, this is a killer to your reputation and integrity. If you want a blog that is straightforward and you write the content and take the pictures let me know. It can be arranged at no expense to a college budgeted student.
55 Athol Kay // May 13, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Well if this is college work you’re gonna get expelled for plagiarism from Wikipedia. Most colleges take this sort of thing pretty seriously.
56 Athol Kay // May 14, 2008 at 6:00 pm

I just deleted Monicas comments “it’s my college work yada yada yada” on my own blog. Her IP address flagged her as living in Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s seriously hard to hide online.

If indeed this is a “college work”, Blogger.com offers free blog hosting without ads.