Can we ask Google to ignore links? Pretty soon we can

[deepsand]

Just so that I can check my understanding, what you are saying is that even if I link to a page it will not cause Google to go and crawl that page? So that if say a site has not been updated for a considerable time so that Google has not re-crawled for a considerable time, there is no external means of prompting it to do so?

If the page in question has not changed then there's no need for its being re-crawled. An SE can check the last modified date by way an appropriate header check, or by fetching the page, and then doing such check. If the last modified date has not changed since the last time that page was indexed, then there's no need to do anything more.

And, the mere fact that your page contains a link to that page is not going to cause the indexing engine to immediately call for that page to be checked for any changes.

For an SE, the priority for re-crawling a previously indexed page is in direct proportion to the product of two factors:

• The frequency with which the page has been observed to have historically changed; and,
• The frequency with which it is likely to be requested by a searcher.

The first factor is gleaned from the indexing engine's record of the results of previous header checks and file requests. The second factor can be measured by the SE's SERP click-through data; and, in the case of Google, by the PageRank of the file in question.

[ozsubasi]

Thank you for the explanation. It would seem then that some of my efforts in link removal have been pointless unless those sites decide to update. A disavow tool will be useful in those instances.

[ozsubasi]

If the page in question has not changed then there's no need for its being re-crawled. An SE can check the last modified date by way an appropriate header check, or by fetching the page, and then doing such check. If the last modified date has not changed since the last time that page was indexed, then there's no need to do anything more.

Just a further thought on this, would not the removal of a link count as a modification?

[morestar]

Just a further thought on this, would not the removal of a link count as a modification?

I'll answer that - Yes...

If the page has been modified, then it's been modified.

[kgun]

Google is guessing as to what are "bad" links, and is looking for us to help them out.

Yes, how could they be 100 % sure even if (a potential competitor ) tells that another company is involved in link selling. That is why I have always claimed that the only logical action for a search engine is to:

zero out suspicious links

That means that the link is non existent to the search engine.

- - - Updated - - -

But webmaster's best guess should not be attached so much importance, that it can directly influence the search results.

That is no longer a pure search engiene, but a WebMaster adapted search engine. I personally prefer a pure search engine that relies on its own programmers and algorithms.

[kgun]

The new "Disavow Links" option in Bing Webmaster Tools is very simple. There is the option to disavow links from a page, directory or domain, just enter the relevant url and click.
Surely Google will follow quickly now with their own version.

Because inbound links can hurt a site?

Links::: Life or death of your eBusiness.

Outbound links are what should worry about. You can control who you link to, but not who links to you unless you are involved in one or more link manipulation schemes.

A search engine that puts the burdon on webmasters has definitely reduced itself to an indexing machine made for manipulation. And how many webmasters will know about this tool.

If this will ever be on Googles agenda, I personally view it as a way to get (you may read fool) people and companies into their (WMT) network.

Read my other posts in this thread for a more thorough explanation of what I mean.

[kgun]

Just a further thought on this, would not the removal of a link count as a modification?

I'll answer that - Yes...

If the page has been modified, then it's been modified.

So you are talking about internal links? That changes the header of the page where the link is removed.

Of an on page link, yes, of an IBL that is deleted (or zeroed out to use that term) from an external domain no. That does not change the header of the page.

[deepsand]

Just a further thought on this, would not the removal of a link count as a modification?

I'll answer that - Yes...

If the page has been modified, then it's been modified.

To amplify, any change to a page, including alterations to its code, is a modification.

Furthermore, one can change a file's Last Modified Date, even when no change has actually occurred, by way of editing its Directory entry.

[ozsubasi]

To amplify, any change to a page, including alterations to its code, is a modification.

That seems to take me back to the beginning then. I have removed a link and therefore the page has been modified, so if I now link to the page where it was, Google will follow that link, see that the page has changed, and crawl it?

[ozsubasi]

Because inbound links can hurt a site?

No, not in the context of my post. I meant because Google have already said they were looking at it and Bing have stolen a march on them.