GaryK
msg:676727 | 5:51 pm on Dec 15, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Perhaps I've been a bad boy. As penance I'm going to try answering a few other orphaned threads in hopes someone will take pity on me and offer a suggestion or some comments. :)
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Brett_Tabke
msg:676728 | 8:31 pm on Dec 15, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Ya, I think you are looking at problems if you do it specifically for engines. If you are thinking about engines and a forum, forget entirely about them as something to be considered. Do whatever is best for your members and your system - engines and engine traffic to a forum, are not even a consideration to me. The only reason they are even still allowed on webmasterworld, is to use them as a site search engine.
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GaryK
msg:676729 | 8:59 pm on Dec 15, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Wow, when you do your penance you get results from the man himself, LOL. Thanks for your comments Brett. I am puzzled about your casual attitude regarding the potential negative effects of bad links in your message boards. Especially considering it seems the vast majority of WW is comprised of message boards. Is this a topic for a different forum? If so I'd like to continue it there.
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Brett_Tabke
msg:676730 | 10:36 pm on Dec 16, 2003 (gmt 0) |
It isn't the engines that will have the problem, it is your competition that will have the problem and report it. >bad links I do take some interest in it by tracking outbound referrals and looking for problem areas.
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GaryK
msg:676731 | 6:44 pm on Dec 17, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Here's what we've decided to do about this situation and I don't think it will be considered cloaking since it will be part of our TOS. To see links in messages you have to be a member of the website and logged-in. It's a double opt-in system that takes fives minutes or less to join and costs nothing. All our members seem to think this is an excellent idea. I personally see no problems with it because if anyone accuses me of cloaking I can point them to our TOS that states you have to be a logged-in member to see the usually very valuable links. I also think it could have the added benefit of getting more people to become members and take part in the great community we've built and continue to work on. Does anyone see any possible downside to this approach?
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volatilegx
msg:676732 | 7:47 pm on Dec 17, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Garyk, I think it's a great solution, and I don't see how you could be penalized for it! Dan
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GaryK
msg:676733 | 2:18 am on Dec 18, 2003 (gmt 0) |
Thanks for your feedback, Dan.
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rogerd
msg:676734 | 2:52 am on Jan 21, 2004 (gmt 0) |
GaryK, that sounds like a great solution. How are you coding this, i.e., what do non-members see when they read a post with a link in it and is there a key bit of logic that lets you do this?
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GaryK
msg:676735 | 7:22 pm on Jan 21, 2004 (gmt 0) |
Non members see a small icon that attempts to convey the idea it's a link they cannot see. If they mouse over the icon they get a more in-depth explanation. I use regular expressions to find all URLs and links in a message and replace them with my little icon.
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