__SERPs and Affiliate Links

[lukkas]

OK,, this could go in 3 areas of this forum but I am mainly concerned about the SERPS.

So, here is my SEO question.

when you put an affiliate link on a webpage, I heard, and others have proof that those links do devalue a page on Google, probably Yahoo and MSN too. ( sorry Ask, I just don't thin of you as a player yet, good commercials though ! )

So, my question is how do you overcome that ?
will a php jump script solve this ? or rel=nofollow.
I think the structure of the affiliate link with a nofollow will still signal to the SE's it's an affiliate and devalue it.

thoughts.?

[stymiee]

I don't think you get penalized in any way for affiliate links. I'd love to see why people say that. But if you're really worried just use nofollow. They don't look at that and judge you by it. They just ignore the link. That's it.

[Dan Schulz]

The link isn't going to anywhere that I consider to be a quality resource (though the bank account would beg to differ), and since I don't want it bleeding PageRank (no matter how little or much), I just slap the rel="nofollow" attribute on the link and be done with it. I call it "peace of mind".

[Hostpitable]

just put rel="nofollow" on your aff links. I do as I have more worthy sites that deserve the link juice.

[Thing]

I've never heard of this either and can't imagine why they would penalize for affiliate links? Affiliate links are a legit means for advertising.

[lee_vhoi_ol]

Legit for advertising, but I think Google recommends using nofollow attribute for advertising.

[internetdominus]

Problem is engines know it is affiliate link that sends people to a site who knows where...so you could say it works as a link that send you to a site that is already being accessed throught another...duplicate link, duplicate content, useless link, call it anything you prefer, but I have seen it is best to use a php script or .htaccess instead of showing those links in your html.

[dvduval]

If the company for which you are involved in the affiliate program has no policy against using "no follow" I would go ahead and assume you can do that.

[rcj662]

I think most affiliate links should have the no follow in the url. It does not hurt most sites because the urls they use are not listed in google most times.

[lee_vhoi_ol]

Yup, I believe too that affiliate links should have the no follow attribute.

[honestandy]

hey,

I agree in the fact that I think it depends where the aff link sends the visitor, if the page your sending them is good in the eyes of google then your ok,but id throw in the no follow tag anyway. as Im no expert.

thanks andy

[terrace_29]

Where should the "nofollow" be placed, at the start of the link?

[Dan Schulz]

Anywhere within the anchor element (though I prefer before the link itself, just because of personal preference, especially when reading code). Here's an example.

<a rel="nofollow" href="i-dont-want-the-search-engines-to-follow-this-link.html">Some link I don't want the search engines to follow</a>.

[markov]

If Google hates affiliate links, then why does it allow in Google Adwords program?

[stymiee]

Adwords is complete separate and unrelated to search (other then ad targeting of course).