Lack of interest Time to nofollow copyright link?

[dethfire]

This just in from Google
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-nofollow-web-design-by-links-19943.html

 

[Arty]

That's basically the same as removing link. That's what copyright removal licenses are for.

Designers and add-on authors put copyright links to help their own websites get some links. It helps authors without affecting customer's website. People rarely click those links, they are mostly there for search engines. Many people release free stuff just because of those links to help rankings of their own websites.

So if you add nofollow to link, its almost the same as removing link completely.

 

[Chris D]

This just in from one guy who works at Google. Pretty sure I've heard statements on official Google blogs to the contrary of what he said.

Seems as though one of the commenters has a similar recollection:

A prime example of John Mueller giving incorrect advice to serve a different purpose than helping those who have asked. Google has already stated over the years that they handle footer links, they understand footer links and treat them appropriately.

Does John suggest that suddenly Google has lost its capacity to correctly process this part of a website ? No, of course not. John Mueller needs to stop treating the people like spammers, these people take time out of their day to ask him questions and the least he could give is a little bit of honesty instead of scaremongering link propaganda.

People who do ask John Mueller questions can save their time from this point and not ask about links, the answer will be 'nofollow' or 'don't do it'

 

[dethfire]

This just in from one guy who works at Google.

John Mueller isn't just "someone" though. He's the new Matt Cutts. He's like the White House Press Secretary.

 

[dethfire]

Designers and add-on authors put copyright links to help their own websites get some links. It helps authors without affecting customer's website. People rarely click those links, they are mostly there for search engines. Many people release free stuff just because of those links to help rankings of their own websites.

That's exactly what Google doesn't want. People gaming the system to rack up rank. Mike once messaged that the copyright link was important because that is how people learn about Xenforo and then buy the software. You don't need a follow link for that.

 

[Arty]

Everybody is gaming the system, be it web masters that do link exchanges, be it paid posters, be it selling links, referrals, etc. Footer links are no different than that.

By promoting nofollow links he's trying to convince people that completely fair system is possible. Its like trying to make communism work - good idea on paper, impossible to implement in reality. We don't live in utopian world. Good websites are not hobbies, they are there to make money for someone. Its business. Everyone wants to get some edge over competitors.

If links in footer would not be followed by search engines because someone at Google thinks those links are unnatural, they should do the same with all other links that could potentially be unnatural - signatures, referrals, link exchanges, paid posters, spam, etc... Then they'd need to be able to tell apart natural links from unnatural, which is impossible, so safest bet is to make all external links on all websites nofollow. Otherwise someone would be able to game the system.

Links in footer are there to promote someone's website in order to sell products. If links won't work, author would have to find revenue elsewhere. There would be much less incentive to release stuff for free and commercial stuff would cost more.

So whole idea of nofollow links is counter productive for everyone.

 

[rafass]

Good news

 

[cmeinck]

That's basically the same as removing link. That's what copyright removal licenses are for.

Designers and add-on authors put copyright links to help their own websites get some links. It helps authors without affecting customer's website. People rarely click those links, they are mostly there for search engines. Many people release free stuff just because of those links to help rankings of their own websites.

So if you add nofollow to link, its almost the same as removing link completely.

Google knows this and it's exactly why it's being recommended that you no-follow. This has little to nothing to do with the person who purchases the add-on or template. By leaving these as follow links, you're doing nothing but risking incredible damage to your search engine visibility.

 

[x3sphere]

What is Google going to do when majority of links on the web are nofollow? I've seen so much confusion over their recommendations, that some sites are starting to nofollow all links, even editorial ones.

As far as footer links: I thought they made some algorithm changes to automatically devalue these or ignore them if not relevant to site content a long time ago. Meaning, unless you're linking out to a spam site it shouldn't hurt you while the site the link is pointing to doesn't get any benefit.