Sometimes You Should Look Past Nofollow
Ask any SEO if they want a nofollowed link to their site and what do you think their answer will be? Do you think they’ll refuse the link?
I wouldn’t. Sure, a link that doesn’t have nofollow wrapped around it passes link juice, which is what every good SEO wants for their backlinks. A nofollow’d link is virtually invisible to the search engines (well, in terms of passing link juice, anyway). So what good is it?
Strictly for SEO purposes…none.
But any good SEO is a well-rounded SEO (and no, I don’t just mean because we put on a few extra pounds due to the lack of exercise we get). We recognize the importance of qualified traffic, no matter where it comes from.
In fact, we recognize the importance of having traffic that DOESN’T come from a search engine!
That’s right, a good SEO knows that traffic diversity is a wonderful thing, and if you can bring in visitors from sources other than search engines, you’ve reduced your dependence on the foibles of the algorithms. In other words, you are able to withstand the times when Google decides to randomly punish you for deeds unknown. 
Blogs have a huge advantage over non-blog sites, in that they naturally attract traffic from non-search sources. Some of those sources, however, apply nofollow to the links. Don’t let that phase you one bit. If that link brings you qualified traffic, go for it.
I’m an SEO, but it’s not all about SEO. Don’t forget that.
Jake | November 3rd, 2007 at 9:04 am #
Also, don’t forget that nofollow’d links can show your site to people who will give you a dofollow’d link. The more people that see your site, the better.
Anon | November 3rd, 2007 at 9:38 am #
You guys with your fancy names.
You know what SEO stands for right? Search Engine Optimalization. How can you then be “an Search Engine Optimalization” as you claim towards the end - “I’m an SEO” (nice touch with the an by the way).
Other than that, true although quite obvious IMO. Then again, I’m an SEO.
DazzlinDonna | November 3rd, 2007 at 11:25 am #
Yes, I know what SEO stands for, and it isn’t just search engine optimization (spelled without the l that you included). It can also mean search engine optimizer, when referring to the person. But hey, call me whatever you want. Makes no difference to me.
Emma | November 3rd, 2007 at 8:46 pm #
Thanks Donna, you reminded me why I have a no follow tag and a no follow blogroll and actively try to interact with other bloggers. Great article. Emma
matt | November 10th, 2007 at 2:41 pm #
And Here is something interesting I found about NOFOLLOW tags recently
http://seomization.blogspot.com/2007/10/nofollow-tag.html