Hello,
In another effort to crack down on people trying to take advantage of free link backs we have removed signatures for guest viewings. We have also added the no-follow link attribute to all outgoing links as well.
Solely replying or creating a topic just to gain link backs on search engines is not tolerated.
Full Version: Forum Spam: No-follow Attribute Added To All Outgoing Links + Signatures Disabled For Guests
Wouldn't it be better just to not allow the posting of links and having signatures for new members? Just my two cents.
That's funny, but I think a forum devoted to web serving is going to need links posted.
Are you sure you know what you're doing?
I don't know the amount of visibility that the search engines (considering that they show up as users without profiles, I assume they're preregistered by the forum and therefore may see signatures anyway) have. This move is effective in a "I don't vouch for this link, make the link points 'disappear in transit'." kind of way. Nofollow is honored (except by Yahoo I hear) but the association, especially if the link anchor text is the url and notably if the word combinations between pages are unique enough, will be there.
If there's a tracker on either page (or the browser), and then if there's a statistically significant amount of traffic through a link, a search engine may give more weight to users and award points anyway in regards to potential webmaster error or "points shaping attempts".
I would say in the end this move could be called a partial solution to the problem.
A better solution would be to prune inactive forum users, or their profiles at least. It solves both DB size issues and "Silent spammers", which do not even post.
Of course the best solution to the problem would be to get your hands dirty and look at links yourself.
I don't know the amount of visibility that the search engines (considering that they show up as users without profiles, I assume they're preregistered by the forum and therefore may see signatures anyway) have. This move is effective in a "I don't vouch for this link, make the link points 'disappear in transit'." kind of way. Nofollow is honored (except by Yahoo I hear) but the association, especially if the link anchor text is the url and notably if the word combinations between pages are unique enough, will be there.
If there's a tracker on either page (or the browser), and then if there's a statistically significant amount of traffic through a link, a search engine may give more weight to users and award points anyway in regards to potential webmaster error or "points shaping attempts".
I would say in the end this move could be called a partial solution to the problem.
A better solution would be to prune inactive forum users, or their profiles at least. It solves both DB size issues and "Silent spammers", which do not even post.
Of course the best solution to the problem would be to get your hands dirty and look at links yourself.
We do 'get our hands dirty' and check the links ourselves, about every 3 days atm.
Most forums have a 'free pass' for Google ect, but this one doesn't even need that as none of the threads are protected - you need to register to write, but not to read.
Swordz
Most forums have a 'free pass' for Google ect, but this one doesn't even need that as none of the threads are protected - you need to register to write, but not to read.
Swordz
QUOTE(sclek @ Aug 20 2009, 06:47 PM) 
Wouldn't it be better just to not allow the posting of links and having signatures for new members? Just my two cents.
these things are not gonna help them in all situation, we need something like a jack of all...
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