The document explains the concept of PageRank and the significance of 'nofollow' links, which prevent sharing PageRank with other sites. It outlines risks associated with not using 'nofollow', such as potential penalties from Google, and the importance of maintaining site integrity to avoid ranking decreases. Additionally, it discusses legal requirements for disclosing paid promotions and clarifies misconceptions about link disclosures.

1. What do you need to
know about Follow?
Ruth Arnold
geekmummy.com
@geekmummy @R2UK

2.  What is page rank?
◦ A measure of your web site’s authority
◦ A number from 0 – 10
◦ Established blogs are typically PR3 – 5
◦ Check yours at http://prchecker.info
 What is nofollow?
◦ When you link to another web page, you share
a little bit of your page rank with them
◦ Setting the link to nofollow prevents this
Definitions

3.  Google does not prevent selling text links
BUT
 Google says such links must be set to
“nofollow”
◦ <a href=http://www.mysite.com rel=“nofollow”>
Can I sell links on my blog?

4.  If Google detects suspicious links:
◦ Page Rank decrease
◦ May even remove your blog from their results
completely
 What do I do?
◦ Fix the links
◦ Resubmit your blog to Google
◦ Wait approximately 90 days
What if I don’t use nofollow?

5.  Site infected with malware
 Lots of broken links
 Lots of spam comments
 Site down
 Duplicated content
 Use Google’s webmaster tools to monitor
your site
◦ http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/
Can anything else damage my
Google ranking?

6.  Blogs / Tweets are covered by laws and
regulations
◦ Advertising Standards Authority
◦ Office of Fair Trading
 MUST disclose if we
◦ Have been paid to write about a particular subject
◦ Have received complimentary product/service
◦ Have been paid to include specific keywords
 Can be fined if we don’t
What about disclosure?

7.  If you are paid to place a “follow” link, and
don’t include a disclosure in the post, Google
won’t know it was paid
 You won’t get penalised for “follow” links to
sites that already rank highly with Google
 If you disclose with an image rather than text
Google won’t notice
 If you avoid using the words “sponsored
post” Google won’t notice
Common misconceptions