John M Weaver SEO - My Original Blog From 2005

When it comes to SEO, few topics spark more debate than the value of backlinks with a "no follow" tag. Over the years, I’ve heard every argument dismissing these links as useless. But let me be clear— 'no follow' backlinks still matter , and they’re an often-overlooked tool for strengthening your online presence. In this article, I’ll explain why these links shouldn’t be ignored, debunk common myths, and share practical ways to incorporate them into your SEO strategy. What Are 'No Follow' Backlinks? A "no follow" backlink is a hyperlink with an HTML tag ( rel="nofollow" ) that tells search engines not to pass link equity to the linked page. Originally introduced by Google in 2005 to combat spammy links, this tag has become a standard tool for webmasters to control their link profiles. But here’s the kicker: while the "no follow" tag reduces direct link equity, it doesn’t mean these links are worthless. Debunking the Myths About ...

Search engines are a marvel of modern technology, designed to provide the most relevant information for any query. But in their earlier days, they weren’t as sophisticated, leaving them open to manipulation. One infamous example of this is the "Google bombing" incident that tied former U.S. President George W. Bush to the search term "miserable failure." This incident, both a political statement and an SEO experiment, highlighted vulnerabilities in Google’s algorithm. Let’s dive into what happened, how it worked, and the impact it had on search engine optimization (SEO). What is Google Bombing? Google bombing refers to the practice of manipulating search engine rankings by strategically creating backlinks with specific anchor text. These backlinks signal to search engines that a particular page is relevant for that text, even if it’s not explicitly mentioned on the page itself. For example, in the case of the "miserable failure" incident, activists cre...