Understanding nofollow links
Nofollow links are hyperlinks that include the rel="nofollow" attribute in their HTML code. This attribute tells search engines not to give link equity (ranking strength or PageRank) to the linked page. This means that the link should not affect the target site's search ranking.
What is a nofollow link?
A nofollow link is written in HTML as follows: <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow"> text </a>
This signals to search engines that, while users can click the link as usual, it should not be treated as an endorsement or contribute to the search ranking of the destination page.
Why are nofollow links used?
Nofollow links are commonly used:
For links in blog comments and other user-generated content to prevent spam.
For paid links, sponsored content, or advertisements, ensuring transparency with search engines.
When a site owner doesn’t want to vouch for the linked page or doesn’t want to pass ranking authority to another site.
Nofollow vs. dofollow (follow) links
Link Type | How it’s coded | Effect on SEO |
|---|---|---|
Dofollow |
| Passes ranking power to linked page |
Nofollow |
| Generally does not pass ranking power |
Dofollow links help the page that you want to rank higher in search results. Nofollow links are usually ignored for ranking purposes, but they can still be crawled and may be followed by search engines in some cases.
SEO impact and Google’s evolving approach
Historically, nofollow links were not considered for search ranking, but Google now treats the nofollow attribute as a hint rather than a direct instruction. This means some nofollow links may be crawled or counted, but their influence remains limited compared to dofollow links.
Best practices and related topics
Use the nofollow attribute for untrusted, paid, or user-generated links to follow search engine guidelines and avoid penalties.
Ensure your overall link strategy combines natural, high-quality building backlinks with proper nofollow usage.
Monitor the effects of your links and rankings through monitoring search rankings and how to set up Google Analytics.
Use the same linking practices on your site. This is part of your overall SEO plan. You should also improve meta tags, speed up page loading, organize URLs, and avoid managing duplicate content.
Understanding how and when to use nofollow links helps safeguard your site’s authority and maintain compliance with search engine standards.
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