Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes
Who would ever think that Website Wiki giant, AboutUs.org will turn against the usual practice of Wikis to nofollow external links on its pages like Wikipedia?
AboutUs Wiki Page
You heard it right; AboutUs.org will reward and recognize those people who continuously help AboutUs readers and the web in general by providing quality content with a link love to selected websites that deserve attention. In this regard, AboutUs.org will ProFollow links on their pages thus making external links on an AboutUs page visible to search engines starting December 1st.
In fact, I was able to get an opportunity for an insider exclusive interview about this move straight from the horse’s mouth.
Ted Ernst
Ted Ernst from the Ops Team of AboutUs confirmed it based on the highlights of our conversation below:
Me: I love the concept of turning Profollow (dofollow) for AboutUs.org. Will you be doing this manually?
Ted Ernst: We currently have the whole site NoFollow waiting for new servers to be up and running, in the next week or so.
Me: Why do you need new servers for it?
Ted Ernst: Because we have 15 million pages. It takes a lot of resources to keep track of all of that and ProFollow makes it harder, another thing to look up for every page.
Me: So, what made you decide to turn into Profollow?
Ted Ernst: We started out following all links, in the beginning. We were then advised that linking to everyone would only benefit the bad actors, so we changed to blanket NoFollow and we wanted to reward good actors, which is why we created ProFollow.
Me: You mean ever since the site was created?
Ted Ernst: It has never been our intention to NoFollow good actors.
Me: So, when are you expecting the transition to be completed?
Ted Ernst: Whenever the new servers arrive hopefully this week.
Me: Great. That was fast! And how are you going to filter out the good from the bad then?
Ted Ernst: one by one, like now, by request.
Me: Wow, that’s a lot of work to do, aye.
Ted Ernst: Only as much as people request.
Me: Once the new servers arrive, people would have to expect that external links are not auto-followed provided there’s a request, am I correct?
Ted Ernst: All links are NoFollow unless we take action. When on a page by page basis, we can flip the ProFollow switch.
Me: Say for example, I’ll be adding another site hopefully by next month, will it be Profollow automatically or I still have to request it?
Ted Ernst: You will have to request it.
Me: That’s what I needed to know! And this chatroom could really help a big deal!
Ted Ernst: If you ever come here and no one answers, just email support@AboutUs.org with your request.
Me: Got it.
Me: In general, how do you classify the bad actors? What type of sites are they?
Ted Ernst: We don’t classify bad actors. What we do is ProFollow pages that have had good work done—to benefit the reader.
Me: Okay, so that’s where the manual approval comes in, right?
Ted Ernst: Yes. Each page reviewed by a human being like me.
Me: Wonderful.
Linking back to AboutUs.org is not at all required but in case you just like to give back, you can paste a badge on your site and the image will link over to the AboutUs article for whatever domain you add the code to like the one below (see sample badge from left sidebar):
<pre>
<a href=”http://www.aboutus.org/YOURDOMAIN.COM“>
<img src=”http://images.aboutus.org/images/9/91/auBadge_trans_80×110.png” border=”0″>
</a>
</pre>
This brilliant move by AboutUs.org not only encourages bloggers and webmasters to create quality content in order to get back links but more than anything, it’s about creating an editable website guide committed to giving back credit to where it is due while at the same time strengthening the community through direct involvement of its members in making sure that only the good guys remain within the circle.
If AboutUs.org has acknowledged the idea of giving and balancing the web, shouldn’t Wikipedia start thinking the same way?
No related posts.
Did you enjoy this article? Please subscribe to Software Critics via RSS or Email to receive all the FREE updates!
James Moralde
Francis
LittleDanniel
Nathaniel Ong
Paul
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for introducing the site.
John Samuel ´s last blog ..Twitter lists: Public or private?
I had dealings with Aboutus.org along time ago and they were first class.When I wrote a review of the site someone actually came by and said thanks,which surprisingly doesn’t happen as often as it should. I also wanted to come by and thank you Math for adding to my blog and being a cool DUDE
thanks
@John Samuel
You’re welcome!
@John Sullivan
My friend, as always, you can count on me and I’ll remain cool no matter what.
Thanks for being here.