Can I Use Meta NoIndex to Block Unwanted Links?

[TMI.com]

I have a forum thread on my site that is completely user generated, not spammy at all, but it is attracting about 45 backlinks from really spammy sites. Usually when this happens, the thread is created by a spammer and I just 404 it. But in this instance, the thread is completely legit, and I wouldn't want to 404 it because users could find it useful.

If I add a meta noindex, nofollow tag to the header, will the spammy pagerank still be passed? How best can I protect myself from these low quality backlinks? I don't want to get slapped by Penguin!

**Note: I cannot find contact information from the spam sites and it's in a foreign language.

[Ray-pp]

Hi TMI.com,

Are you saying that you have a forum where spam/bots create a forum thread to link back to their website? Which creates a number of spammy threads on your forum which you then have to remove?

If so, then you would first want to combat that spam through your Forum software. How can you create barriers for bots creating new threads?

• Require someone to create an account and login prior to posting

• Require threads with a link to go to admin moderation

• Make it so only users with X Activity have the ability to post links (e.g. users who have previously posted 10 legit threads can enable posting links in forum threads)

• Integrate a CAPTCHA when posting threads/comments

These are a few common strategies for preventing on-site forum spam.

If you're wondering how to combat external forum threads that link back to your website, but are spammy. Then identify those pages and use the Google Disavow Tool to distance your site from that spammy content. If you notice a domain being habitually offensive, you may want to disavow the entire domain for any future backlinks.

[LesleyPaone]

I help moderate a relatively busy forum, sever hundred thousand active users, let me share some of our insights.

It sounds like you have links in posts being followed, no follow all links in posts no matter who posts them. For footer signatures, make a threshold, say 25 posts before the user can have a footer signature. If you want to give people more incentive to post, have a do follow link in their profile after a certain threshold has been passed, like Moz does.

Fighting forum spam is a full time job almost, but it is easier to beat it in the beginning than just handle it as it comes in. Create a honey pot on your registration form and change it out weekly. Something like this could work, http://solutionfactor.net/blog/2014/02/01/honeypot-technique-fast-easy-spam-prevention/

As for the links on the other sites I would disavow them, but once you stop the spam, they should stop. What they are doing is called link laundering. They are placing a link in your forum, then they are using a service like fiverr or similar to build backlinks to the forum link. They do this in hopes to raise the authority of the forum post and in turn raise the authority of links pointing to their site. They are pretty insulated from penalties by doing this, but they risk you getting a penalty.

[TMI.com]

Hi Ray-pp,

In this instance, no, a bot is not creating spam on MY site. Someone is linking to my site from an external, spammy site. So yes, I am "wondering how to combat external forum threads that link back to your website, but are spammy." As you put it.

You mention using the Google disavow tool...but I have read that it can be dangerous to use. Would a case like this really warrant use of Google disavow? And back to my original question, can I use meta noindex, no follow to block bad link juice?

[Ray-pp]

As LesleyPaone suggested below, ensure your post links are set to nofollow; this is especially sought after for spammers and bots.

I would not suggest using a noindex tag, unless you want your pages to be removed from the SERPs (which I don't think you do).

Don't be afraid to use the Disavow tool, but only use it on sites/pages that you identify as spam. The issue with Disavowing is that some users disavow an entire domain and the domain may not be spam related, thereby removing wanted links from a site's backlink profile.

If you know the site is spammy and do not want backlinks from that site, then feel secure disavowing the domain.

[TMI.com]

Thank you for your response! I will try the disavow tool.

[TMI.com]

Thanks for responding. I think you're absolutely right, we need to take those precautions and then deal with the bad backlinks. I will try the disavow tool as well. Thanks!