Should Bloggers be Helping Google Fix Their PageRank System?

By now, most bloggers have heard announcement Big 3 search engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN - have united support a new tag will supposedly combat comment spam. The new tag a nofollow attribute can be added links. When added links comment tags, search engines will ignore them.

An excellent discussion this new tag how works can be found at Danny Sullivan's Search Engine Watch: http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050118-204728

Google announced new tag a 1/18/2005 post their own blog: http://www.google.com/googleblog/

And Microsoft added their support new tag this post: http://blogs.msdn.com/msnsearch/archive/2005/01/18/nofollow_tags.aspx

At first blush, anything can help cut down comment spam most bloggers are daily subjected would seem be a good thing. It can be pretty upsetting access your blog morning find 50 junk comments with links casino, adult, pharmacy sites. If your blog has any PageRank, you can expect find more this garbage polluting your site every day. Fighting spread comment spam has become a necessity.

But after first cheering proactiveness search engines, many bloggers have stepped back taken a closer look they don't like what they see. You can read a sampling their thoughts at Search Engine Watch Forum: http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=3797

Brian Turner's incisive article "New Nofollow Tag Cheers Bloggers but Fails Blogs" discusses some potential abuses new nofollow tag: http://www.platinax.co.uk/news/archives/2005/01/new_nofollow_ta.html

And Jim Pryke's article "Bloggers Cheer Google As Their Search Rankings Plummet" makes very clear not only will this NOT stop comment spam. But will actually hurt bloggers a community: http://netinstitute.com/archives/2005/01/20/bloggers-cheer-google-as-their-search-rankings-plummet

For an hilarious take new tag how will get abused, be sure take a look at Link Condom: http://www.linkcondom.com

I have agree with these bloggers nofollow tag won't even put a dent problem comment spam. You have realize comment spammers who cause most problems are ones who use automated bots spread their spam onto every blog they find. The fact they find a blog using nofollow tag won't stop bot from posting. If you have a popular blog, you'll still wake up every morning find 50 casino/pharmacy/adult ads your blog. You'll still have spend time deleting those posts clean up your blog.

You see, problem bloggers isn't those comment links pass PR. It's fact those spam posts make your blog look like garbage. Whether links pass PR or not isn't big issue bloggers. It's time takes get rid unwanted comments detraction their sites. The nofollow tag won't do a thing about problem. You'll still have problems, even if you use tag.

Think about this: how effective have email filters been stopping email spam? As most us know, they've hardly done any good at all. Email spam becomes a bigger problem every day. Spammers really don't care if some their emails are blocked. They just send more compensate. The same will be true automated comment spam bots.

The fact matter is, there are already much better tools most blogging software fight comment spam AND save time effort blogger at same time. There are already a number plugins WordPress, Moveable Type, other blogs. There will undoubtedly be more future. These tools are already more effective at fighting comment spam than this nofollow tag will ever be.

What unfortunate people nofollow tag will really hurt bloggers themselves. Traditionally, bloggers have read commented each other's blogs. And these comments have added value. When I write an article my blog, I love when other bloggers take time add their insights topic I'm discussing. These comments add content my site continue discussion. This one reasons blogs are so easy grow into topic-specific information-rich sites are popular with readers. Unlike static sites, they offer two-way communication between reader blogger. They become communities.

When someone adds this kind value my blog, I am more than happy give them a link their blog passes PR. That will help them build readership their own blog, grow community even larger, add richness discussion. These are exactly kinds links that any webmaster should want their site!

Adding a nofollow tag comments can only quash this discussion. It can only discourage commenters with most contribute from taking time add discussion. After all, if time I spend another blog doesn't contribute growth blogging community a whole or aid visibility my own blog, am I going spend much time effort doing it?

Anything that decreases open flow discussion currently enjoyed blogging community a bad deal bloggers.

The question that should be asked this: why comment spam so profitable? After all, if weren't profitable, so many people wouldn't be going such ridiculous lengths do it.

The answer this obviously Google's link-heavy PageRank algorithm that forces webmasters get every link they can get their site's indexed ranked. Most webmasters know that order get ranked Google, they had better have a ton links their site.

That's problem with PageRank an algorithm. It encourages artificial linking between sites that no longer has any relevance whatsoever goal providing good resources visitors. Do we really believe that most reciprocal link directories provide a resource our visitors? Not likely! If websites are real estate, reciprocal link directories are slums, seedy bars tattoo parlors edges polite society.

Whole businesses have sprung up a reaction PageRank. I'm talking about link auction link selling sites. Under PageRank system, sites aren't being ranked by who provides best content, but by who has deepest pockets buy most links. Or, case comment spammers, whoever wants spread their bots all over internet spamming blogs. This system has over time totally skewed natural linking between sites that once dominated internet - very thing that Google's PageRank system supposed reward.

Ironically, blogs are one few places left web where linking actually about providing good content visitors rewarding value provided other sites. Bloggers a group are most likely link sites because content value their visitors. Their links are very likely be very topic specific. You don't find that other sites. These are kinds links that I would assume Google would want encourage through their PageRank system, not those junky reciprocal link directories or purchased links.

It would seem me that only effective way cut down comment spam all artificial linking techniques Google purportedly wants thwart not by making life harder bloggers - very people who link most relevant fashion. But at taking a second look at their own PageRank system whether really serving usefulness their own search engine whole web 2005.

For more tips ideas how make money blogging, be sure visit my "Why Marketers Should Blog" weblog at (what else) http://www.WhyMarketersShouldBlog.com

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