Elements of an HTML which are used to direct search engines that a hyperlink is not to affect the rank of a search engines index is known as a no follow link. No follow links are designed to help eliminate search engine spam as well as create better search engine results.

The idea of the no follow link was developed by Google in 2005 to eradicate spam that may appear in a search when using keywords in search engines. No follow links were not developed to block the access to web content but rather to avoid the content from being indexed by search engines.

The code rel=?nofollow?, when used in the syntax can block spam or sway the links that targets page rank. Though it was designed and the copyright is owned by google, other search engines like Yahoo, Windows Live Search, and Bing also started using this concept

It does not mean that the search engines do not follow the links. They do follow, but they merely not index them in the database. The link can be clicked, and the page will be loaded without blocking any contents. This is just used to reduce the spam being displayed in the search result. In Google search, it is taken exactly. The link will not even be followed. There are some disagreements to this in the SEO report. According to the report, Google follows the link but does not index it. Yahoo will follow the link but do not include in the ranking calculations. MSN search neither counts it nor follows it. Every search engine creates has their own difference of what a no follow link should mean.

The majority of weblog software programs will automatically submit links with the no follow attribute and not give some options to change. There are a few programs that will allow alterations from trusted users and others will allow them to be submitted as the writer wishes and then use human editors to remove any unwanted links.

Web owners are protected from unwanted content being on their site by no follow links. Blogs or forums are added to sites in attempts to generate new material to their site and to help boost the overall rating of the site. No follow links permits bloggers to post links but prevents these links from affecting the page. This is a great tool as a page may drastically plummet in its ranking if negative or offensive links are added.

Google began using no follow links as a machine readable disclosure for paid links. This prevents them from gaining integrity in the results of search engines. Web owners are currently arguing whether this is beneficial or detrimental. The jury is still out because many sites are paying for links to be traded on their page in attempts to escalate their ranks. In the opinion of the SEO the no follow link posses many contradictory elements and should therefore be left up to individual web owners to decide whether or not to implement its use.

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