Nofollow Can Upset Webmasters!
Posted by Mike | Filed under Google, Link BuildingI received lots of e-mails from potential advertisers and they asked if the text ads that I sell have the nofollow tag or not. I told them that I put nofollow on all text ads because I believe that those links are placed here for advertisement purposes, not for SEO and PageRank *cough* purposes.
After a few moments, I received a reply from one of the people who wanted to buy text ads. The reply was rather rude and inconsiderate. Here’s the e-mail:
After reading the e-mail, I was like “Oh… so there are still people who are crazy about PR.” I was a bit surprised actually. I thought that people stopped caring about PR!
As you can see, he said that he was upset because the webmasters that he contacted all put nofollow tags on text ads. I think he’s that crazy for PageRank. 
He’s the only one that complained to me about this issue.
He clearly wanted to buy links from me for the PR juice, not to advertise his website. He also described my decision of putting nofollow tags on text ads as “stupid”. Dude, I’m selling text ads here to help you promote your site, not to give you the PageRank that you crave for. I hope that’s clear!
I want to know your thoughts about this. How do you find his e-mail? To the people who also put nofollow tags on text ads: Will you remove nofollow tags on your ads if majority of your advertisers request you to do so?
This chestnut just doesn’t seem to want to go away.
Of course you should put nofollow tags on your links, otherwise you risk having your own PR penalised by Google. The advertiser is deluding himsself if he thinks the sole point of paid links is PR juice. A paid link on a good PR page with strong traffic will drive traffic through.
It seems to me that this guy is only interested in Google traffic and none from other sources and also hasn’t done his research.
He is paying for a link on an appropriate site with strong traffic - the equivalent of putting your billboard next to a busy road. He is NOT paying for PR, which is like painting your phone number onto someone else’s well-placed billboard.
http://www.jonathancrossfield.com/blog/2007/12/is-google-really-the-bogeyman.html
On the one hand, coming with experience on the other side, I can understand where he’s coming from. Everyone would prefer that text ads they buy are followed.
On the other hand, if someone sells links and are going to put nofollow on them, move on. I have consistently been surprised in all of the jobs I’ve had where people expect to get their way after telling the other person that they’re stupid.
As for me, if I’m going to let someone advertise with me I’ll follow the advertisements. I’m only going to let someone advertise who I trust and I endorse, so I might as well let the search engines know that.
Last time I checked, this is a free country, so why not let the owner of the site do as he pleases
anyways, we usually can’t persuade, let alone change other people’s mind with angry use of words. Duh!!
Kimota: Nice analogy… great post as well. Thanks for dropping by!
Dustin: Thanks for your opinion.
Webhopper: The guy will really not be able to build a good relationship with publishers (and persuade them) if he keeps on using those words.
I’m new to this advertising thing, but AFAIK advertising is supposed to get you more visitors and customers not some worthless Pagerank.
Exactly my point, Lenz.
Thanks for visiting again! By the way, I got your e-mail and I sent a reply already. Do check it out. 
PageRank is almost dead, well, maybe for now. Still, PageRank is important, and some go into the extremes.
Anyways, he should realize that Google announced publicly on its blog regarding paid links that it will penalize webmasters.
I think he knows about Google and paid links, but he just doesn’t care. All he wants is PR, I guess.
What’s the point of PR if he is going to get penalized for getting a paid link that passes PageRank?
pagerank still matters on google search algoritm, maybe a suggestion to place if webmaster is selling link is the disclosure of the fact that it will be no follow and you are advertising on the site for traffic and site exposure.
Yeah… that’s my question too.
I’d like him to read this post and leave a comment here. I’m gonna send him an e-mail!!! 
I agree with you 100%. However if when you sold the link it did pass PR you should of notified him to avoid situations like this.
Yes, that’s a nice suggestion. I’ll put a disclosure in my advertising page.
Thanks for dropping by, Mark.
lol. stupid? xD i think he’s the one. lol… did you send an e-mail already? what was his reaction?
