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Almost all blog platforms by default are set up so that a “dead end” piece of code is inserted wherever there is a link in a comment, so that search engines will not “count” the link as they are crawling the internet. This was originally designed to help stop comment spam, but it doesn’t work. What it does is remove some of the incentive for your readers contribute to your site by commenting on your posts.
What can you do about it? Turn off “nofollow”. Show your commenters that you appreciate them. Spread the link love.
How? Depending on the blog platform you’re on, you can install a plugin (like this one for WordPress), or disable it (see this post if you’re a Moveable Type user), or modify your template (check this site for Blogger tips).
Turning off the “nofollow” on blog comments has become a sort of “movement”. Well, if we’re going to have a movement, we should have something to show our readers that we’re part of it, don’t you think? I’ve created some little “I Follow” logos that would work well for a side bar, and if you’ve written a post letting your readers know that you’ve turned off nofollow in your comments, you could link the logo to that post. I’ve also set up some quick CSS if you’d rather:
If you’d rather use just CSS – click here to open a separate page and then view the source to copy the CSS from. You can easily change the colors to fit in with your site.
[...] have been some great posts and discussions on the “do follow” movement recently. And Randa Clay has designed some really nice badges that you can add to your blog to let the world know that you [...]
[...] Randa Clay has given us all a present today! She has created a series of very snappy badges for your blog to let the world know that if a reader leaves you a comment, you will return the favor with a followed link. [...]
[...] recently reiterated that I removed NoFollow on the comment links (I’ll be adding this cool graphic shortly). I did this a while [...]
[...] If you want a button too, here is the link. [...]
[...] the Randa Clay Design blog released some logos to share with folks who have turned off “nofollow” and wrote an announcement [...]
[...] few days ago, Randa Clay had the great idea of creating a badge. Great idea, I thought. Why didn’t I think of that? [...]
[...] you on board with this? Tell the world, by adding the I Follow logo on your [...]
[...] If you’re on the list and don’t already have a badge for your sidebar, you can grab one here. So, Chris and Chris, should you choose to participate (you’ve both just written posts about [...]
[...] the Randa Clay Design blog released some logos to share with folks who have turned off “nofollow” and wrote an announcement [...]
[...] Mom:New Jersey Charlotte’s Tips As the Garden Grows Randa Clay Design The [...]
[...] Charlotte’s Tips As the Garden Grows Randa Clay Design [...]
[...] that they can get some linky love from your comments box, drop by Randa’s to pick up a ‘I FOLLOW’ [...]
[...] with much deserved link love. Not only that you can go a step further and proudly to display a “U Comment I Follow” badge on your site, courtesy of RandaClay.com, letting your readers know that if they comment on your blog, they’re going to get some love [...]
[...] nofollow you can now show off that you are part of this thanks to Randa Clay, who has created the I Follow buttons, one of which you can see at the top of this [...]
[...] in. He put the badge above his comments section, and very generously linked it right back to my I Follow page! He actually sort of indirectly gave me the idea in the first place with his design of the Time [...]
[...] colocando também na sidebar essa imagem, que foi retirada do Randa Clay. Parece que o I Follow Movement está aumentando dia a [...]
[...] You can read more about it at Casual Keystrokes, and check out the sassy free “U Comment I Follow” buttons from Randa Clay. [...]
[...] mere her, her, her, her, [...]
[...] Grab a badge. There’s a simple one here, and you can get multicolored badges (like in my sidebar) from Randa Clay. [...]
[...] some bloggers have pushed forward and created the "I Follow" movement and even created a "Do Follow" plugin for [...]
[...] This is where my non-technical side comes into play and I usher you to enter this path to learn more at Semiologic and of course, Randa’s post on I Follow [...]
[...] a post by Randa Clay in which she talks about the DoFollow movement, and the fact that she has designed a logo for [...]
[...] Simple Kind Of Life 3DayMom BuyMeBlog The Hockey Dad Charlotte’s Tips As the Garden Grows Randa Clay Design The Article Writer Posted by Charlotte on April 17th, 2007 under [...]
[...] Have you seen the ‘DO FOLLOW’ badge floating around in the blogosphere. In case you are not aware, the designer of the badge is also [...]
[...] forget to get the Do Follow badge from Randa Clay [...]
[...] forget to get the Do Follow badge from Randa Clay [...]
[...] Descobri, via Dudu Tomaselli, que existe um movimento I Follow, que disponibilizou uma série de selos que identificam blogs sem NoFollow. [...]
[...] a growing ‘movement’ called I Follow, started by Randa Clay. Randa created a series of I Follow badges you can put in your sidebar, saying that “You comment – I [...]
[...] Inspirací k napsání tohoto příspěvku mi byly články Say Goodbye To The NO FOLLOW Tag a I Follow List stojící za vznikem nové myšlenky You Comment I Follow. [...]
[...] with them I’ll try to spread a hope to all those who still suffer. To celebrate, I went to Randa Clay and picked up a small badge which says: “U comment – I follow”. Don’t have to say [...]
[...] The logo that I use for DoFollow was graciously provided by Randa Clay. [...]
[...] I Follow by Randa Clay [...]
[...] link back from Google in their page ranking. Check out the badge you can download and read about the “do follow” movement [...]
[...] fellow bloggers that do are starting lists announcing those who are using this plugin. You can even check out this site for cute little images that openly state you follow! I’ll be placing one of these on my [...]
[...] They win and then you win by maintaining a loyal readership. Link generously to other bloggers and to those who contribute to your site by commenting . Aiding in the success of your readers and your fellow bloggers will be profitable in the long [...]
[...] has also made a bunch of buttons to put on your blog to indicate that you’ve turned off nofollow. Anyway, I thought these were [...]
[...] may have noticed the recent ‘U Comment, I Follow’ logo addition to the sidebar of the site, I decided to add this after reading about the ‘Do [...]
[...] has become sort of a movement among many blogs to try and increase reader interactivity. Designer Randa Clay came up with some basic logos to use so that your readers can be informed that their links will be [...]
[...] Follow” blog, it was originally created by Randa Clay and she has made it available in several colours to suit your blogs [...]
[...] Dave Prouhet on Working at Home Blog Carnival-Thirty-first Edition Want One? [...]
[...] a DoFollower, then Randa Clay (one of the most significant promoters of the movement) has created a logo, and made it available in a choice of colours! Chances are that you’ve already seen her graphics popping up on blogs you read daily – and I [...]