Should I add nofollow to affiliate links on my website?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by bad_bob00, Aug 28, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hi there,

    I've heard somewhere that Google gets put off by too many affiliate links on a page - so should I add the rel=nofollow to each of my affiliate links?

    Thanks. Matt
     
    bad_bob00, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  2. SKxprt

    SKxprt Peon

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    #2
    Hi,

    If you mean that Google will put you off because of too many affiliate links than: If Google does that, than using no-follow or not will not help you - it is still an affiliate link.

    By using no-follow, you will for sure lower the transfer of your PR points to your affiliate links.

    I hope I did target your question properly.

    Regards
     
    SKxprt, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  3. josh_coffman

    josh_coffman Peon

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    #3
    it might be better to:

    create your own internal links (ex: yourdomain.com/affiliatelink1.html) with nofollow
    add a redirect in your .htaccess for these links (redirect affiliatelink1.html to your actual affiliate link)
    exclude these pages (links) in your robots.txt file
     
    josh_coffman, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  4. SKxprt

    SKxprt Peon

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    #4
    I agree with the comment.

    You can use the robots.txt file wisely and also Google it self recommends that.

    Regards
     
    SKxprt, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  5. bad_bob00

    bad_bob00 Active Member

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    #5
    I thought I read somewhere that adding the rel=nofollow attribute was enough - is this advice wrong?

    How can you check to see what Google recommends?

    Thanks
     
    bad_bob00, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  6. YouReview

    YouReview Peon

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    #6
    I was being penalized by Google so I nofollowed all my affiliate links. Eventually the penalty was removed but I made many changes so i dont know that the affiliate links were necessarily the cause. I will continue to nofollow them though. No reason to pass them any link juice...I'll keep it alllll to myself.
     
    YouReview, Aug 28, 2007 IP
  7. SKxprt

    SKxprt Peon

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    #7
    Hi,

    About the link juces - YES, you do not have to pass them to other sites.

    About what Google recommends - go to the Google webmaster center and find your answers. You will find what to do in affiliate links case and how to use your robots.txt file.

    Regards
     
    SKxprt, Aug 30, 2007 IP
  8. Brandon Sheley

    Brandon Sheley Illustrious Member

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    #8
    yes, you should definitely add nofollow to affiliate links.
     
    Brandon Sheley, Aug 30, 2007 IP
  9. keighery

    keighery Peon

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    #9
    Yes use nofollow on all affiliate links
     
    keighery, Jan 24, 2008 IP
  10. angilina

    angilina Notable Member

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    #10
    yes, I have nofollow tags too, as the main thing for affiliate links is that people will click on it, so if u add a no follow tag, it will not make any difference at all for the users clicking on it.
     
    angilina, Jan 26, 2008 IP