Why would a spammer use no-follow?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by sam_h, Dec 30, 2008.

  1. #1
    This is the first thread I have started here, so I should say hi first...Hi :)

    Anyways

    The blog that I run gets a fair amount of spam comments. I had a look at one of the comments today to see what exactly they were putting as a comment, and I noticed that all their links had the no-follow attribute

    If they were spamming to get backlinks, why would they include the no-follow tag?

    Perhaps I don't understand the tag or spammers fully, but surely it doesn't make sense to add it?

    All the best

    Sam
     
    sam_h, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  2. ms2134

    ms2134 Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Maybe it is to annoy you, but not to get Google or other search engines against them...

    ~ Mike
     
    ms2134, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  3. FHI

    FHI Guest

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    #3
    My blogs are set up to auto post comments after I approve the first one. I think some spammers that are too lazy to create a good first comment try that in an effort to get you to approve the post and smooth sailing from then on for them (I could be wrong).
     
    FHI, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  4. lifeplayer

    lifeplayer Notable Member

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    #4
    Some spammer are looking to get traffic to their site but not link building
     
    lifeplayer, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  5. sam_h

    sam_h Peon

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    #5
    if i was a spammer, I would be as black-hat as could be! surely spamming is bad enough not to worry about the nofollow tag!!
     
    sam_h, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  6. dpsubi1

    dpsubi1 Notable Member

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    #6
    may be to get some traffic if your blog is high traffic one ... Also, i heard not all SE's checks for nofollow. some SE's follows even if you have no follow tag
     
    dpsubi1, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  7. magda

    magda Notable Member

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    #7
    Spammers are stupid.
    Simple as that.
     
    magda, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  8. Stratcolby

    Stratcolby Member

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    #8
    Most blogging platforms automatically add nofollow to all links within comments by default. I highly doubt the spammers added nofollow themselves.
     
    Stratcolby, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  9. sultanofseo

    sultanofseo Notable Member

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    #9
    oversmart spammers i think. they want the traffic most likely and want to avoid links from possible bad neighborhood.
     
    sultanofseo, Dec 30, 2008 IP
  10. FHI

    FHI Guest

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    #10
    This is from one of my wordpress blogs:

    href="hxxxxxttp://mj-portalxxxxxen.se/blog/tomcamun1961/2009/01/01/clinton-2/" rel="nofollow">girgeous victorian desk lamp hand painted roses chic rprtl</a><a href="httxxxxxxp://mj-portalen.se/blog/tomcamun1961/2009/01/01/clinton-2/" rel="nofollow">vision care shfnt</a><a href="httxxxxp://dorgudxf1970.sundsvallonline.se/2009/01/01/jenise/" rel="nofollow">lwlisir damore antzn</a><a href="httxxxxxp://dorgudxf1970.sundsvallonline.se/2009/01/01/jenise/" rel="nofollow">aets crafts nouveau reverse painted sconce chandelier evwva</a><a href="http://dorgudxf1970.sundsvallonline.se/2009/01/01/jenise/" rel="nofollow">

    I added the "x's" to break the links. Do you still "highly doubt" it?
     
    FHI, Jan 1, 2009 IP
  11. paulseo

    paulseo Member

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    #11
    Surely its your forum script thats adding the no follow ? If I spam a forum then check the code the no follow is there 99 times out of 100
     
    paulseo, Jan 1, 2009 IP
  12. Stratcolby

    Stratcolby Member

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    #12
    I have wordpress too, and I just made a test comment on my blog with a couple links in it (without the nofollow tag). Looking at the comments in Wordpress admin and in the database, the nofollow tag has been automatically added.

    So yes, I still highly doubt it.
     
    Stratcolby, Jan 1, 2009 IP
  13. sam_h

    sam_h Peon

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    #13
    so you think that it is just wordpress adding the nofollow after all that - devestated, i thought it was quite interesting!!
     
    sam_h, Jan 1, 2009 IP
  14. FHI

    FHI Guest

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    #14
    Not sure out of maybe 100 or so spam comments that's the only one I found with the no-follow.

    SPAMMER=josephadam@eudora.com

    JosephAdam (IP: 66.128.38.41 , ppp-38-41.telesat.com.co)

    If somebody really wants to know why they do it, write the guy and e-mail and ask him.
     
    FHI, Jan 1, 2009 IP
  15. Maslova

    Maslova Well-Known Member

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    #15
    I noticed the same thing on my wordpress today, and it was also the first and only one I had seen with a "nofollow" tag. I was as equally confused as the OP.
     
    Maslova, Jan 1, 2009 IP