rel="nofollow" or javascript is better??

hello,

I normally use the following code when I dont want search engines to see a link:

javascript:var handle=window.open('http://www.url.com/')


is this method better or worse then rel="nofollow"

Thanks

Paul

 

Using javascript as a link is always a Bad Idea. As far as I know, all major search engines honor the rel="nofollow" convention.

cheers,

gary

 

why is it a bad idea?

 

Not everyone has JavaScript enabled (Mobile devices, screen readers, commercial users, people who choose to turn it off). A link is html, it shouldn't be substituted for JavaScript when the nofollow will do exactly what you want, whereas the JavaScript could easily end up breaking your site.

 

Ok that was a clear answer, thanks

 

I think it depends on why you don't wanyt them to see the link. With rel=nofollow they will see the link but not follow it. With the right javascript they will not see the link at all. So if your purpose is to conserve PR rel=nofollow would work. but if you are interested in them not seeing your affiliate links the javascript would be better.

 

In my opinion you want links to be followed only by real visitors and not by searchengines. The best way is to use the rel="nofollow". Javascript have disadvantages:
- not everybody has enabled javascript
- you shouldn't just javascript in <a href="..."
- you open for every visitor that clicks the link a new popup window?

 

Spiders will still follow a "nofollow," but the link doesn't pass any PR juice. When you say you don't want search engines to see the link, javascript even obfuscated js is a good bet. If you just want them to not follow the link you can use robots.txt for that.