A few hours ago, Google official blog made a post: Evolving "nofollow" - to identify the nature of links (nofollow evolving - new method to determine the nature of the link) new ways, today announced from the beginning, and the role of nofollow tags Google nofollow method of treatment has been a major change.
History nofollow tag
The classic nofollow tag and usage of the previous post wrote, details reader is referred to previous posts.
nofollow tag (to be exact properties, but the convention, or call label it) is like Google and Yahoo search engine, introduced in 2005, aims to tell the search engines do not track plus the links nofollow, do not pass link weight, do not search algorithm in computing this link. Baidu also supports the nofollow tag.
The initial aim is to add nofollow in forums, blog comments like the place, because these places are links other users increase, the webmaster is not a vote on other websites. Soon nofollow is also widely used in advertising, sponsored links, because such links should not be seen as a vote.
Since search engines basically ignore nofollow links, nofollow links to pages not get weights, SEO who began using nofollow links the right to control the weight of internal flow. However, Google does not recommend this usage, and clearly tell the SEO, nofollow tag would be a waste of heavy weights. Internal links with nofollow weight control flow has been very popular, but now most of the English site no longer do that.
Baidu is currently processing methods and whether nofollow tags, like Google, is uncertain. Baidu engineer previously expressed, nofollow tag will not be a waste of weight, so the Chinese website using nofollow internal control weight more effective. Currently still valid? I have the opportunity to find Baidu friends to make sure.
The nofollow tag any significant changes?
Google's main post announced two major changes in the treatment nofollow:
One adds two new properties:
ref = "sponsored: This new property / label used to label advertising, sponsorship or other benefits due to the existence of a link.
ref = "ugc": This new property / label for UGC (user generated content), such as forum posts, blog comments and the like.
ref = "nofollow": this old property / tag still vote for no endorsement means that the link does not pass ranking weights.
In other words, it released two new labels for advertising and UGC each new record a special label.
The second major change is that the meaning is more significant: these three tags will be seen as a hint Google search algorithm (Google used the word hint) In deciding whether a link should be considered easier to understand the point of the word a suggestion, not an instruction.
Nofollow is essentially a previous instruction, Google will ignore nofollow links added in the calculation of the weight flow does not consider this link. Later, Google only these three labels as suggested algorithm to consider whether this link, integrated by Google itself and other factors to make a decision.
Why should this change?
Used properly, why is there such a sudden change? Google's argument is that in order to better analyze, link signal. Link contains a lot of signals can improve search quality, such as anchor text. Google now consider all the links that Google is conducive to a better understanding of unnatural linking patterns.
The nofollow tag family of three as recommended, both to make Google not to lose valuable information, but also retains the owners show a link mechanism not vote.
Starting today, Google search ranking algorithm immediately nofollow tag as three recommendations. Google's crawling, indexing algorithm from the beginning of March 2020 No. 2 nofollow tag as three recommendations. It seems nofollow tag already no impact on Google rankings, the next few days to make English SEO webmaster can look at whether there are significant changes in the ranking. The nofollow to crawl, crawl, index should have a more significant effect, after all, will link weight flow changes.
In most cases, even if the treatment was changed to recommend Google, it would not change the nature and effect link, because usually still not consider the link in the algorithm, the same as before. Google should carefully evaluate how to use the new link data.
At present, I think that SEO do not have to make any changes, to observe the situation, is likely to have little effect. To crawl, index, potential impact, but Google also very cautious, in March 2020, a few months ago this would certainly collect more data to assess the impact, so that the search results will not have large fluctuations.
Some Problems
Google posts specifically answer a few owners may ask questions, here briefly a few. Not a translation, just pick out a few interesting points, I think, want to see the complete text of Google posts.
We need to modify the existing nofollow tag?
No need to. Whether for advertising or post the message, continue to be valid existing nofollow tag, do not change.
However, if the existing nofollow tag is used for advertising links, Google or that do not change, but suggested there is effort when you can instead ref = "sponsored". Google seems to have a link exchange of interests is very sensitive, and I want to dig more data, some links instead ref = "sponsored" Google can more accurately judge when a large-scale advertising links.
A link can use multiple property values do?
can. For example, ref = "ugc sponsored" links may represent the content is user-generated advertising, ref = "nofollow ugc" indicates that the user-generated content, links do not track. (Note that this will only effect the recommendation)
How do attribute the wrong?
In addition to advertising, the property using the wrong not a big deal. For example, the UGC ad or link written as ref = "sponsored" no big relationship, the maximum is not counting on this link, and now nofollow effect is the same.
But if the advertising links, then he needs to use ref = "sponsored" (As mentioned earlier, it is best to use this), or ref = "nofollow" (can be). If the ad links marked what will happen to ugc? Google did not say, but apparently is not recommended. Therefore, the existing ref = "nofollow" can not change, but do not link the nature of the error correction for the ad ref = "ugc".
Impact on the external link building
As previously mentioned, a link on their site and there is no need to modify. But for the English site, the effect of this change nofollow may have a relatively large impact at least the way external link building.
All along, SEO when building their enthusiasm outside the chain of nofollow links is far less than dofollow links. But the future even added a nofollow link may also be treated as a normal Google, transfer the weight of the link, and for some people, this may be a good thing.
For example, in the various social media sites with high spread site, wiki, Wikipedia, Q & A site recommended more sites, participate in forums for a long time, left a lot of signatures sites, many previously little effect nofollow links may night of inter become more effective.
Of course, in the end what nofollow links are treated as ordinary links, we will not know that those who put their links are nofollow added social media sites, news sites themselves do not know. When doing link building, you may need to consider whether there are nofollow, just consider whether it helps attract the user.
Baidu, Bing Will follow up? We'll see.