Are Nofollow Links Good for SEO? Learn the Truth

Oct 17 • 3 min read

Knowledge Base > Linkbuilding > Are Nofollow Links Good for SEO? Learn the Truth

Nofollow links are hyperlinks that contain a special HTML attribute (rel=”nofollow”) that tells search engines not to pass SEO value or “link juice” to the linked site.

Introduced by Google in 2005, the nofollow tag was originally designed to combat spammy links, especially in blog comments. It ensures that search engines won’t count these links when ranking websites.

When a search engine encounters a nofollow link, it understands that the link should not pass any SEO authority or PageRank to the destination page. However, these links still function as regular links, allowing users to click through and visit the linked site, even though search engines are instructed not to factor them into their ranking algorithms.

Although nofollow links don’t pass link equity, they can still provide several indirect SEO benefits:

  • Referral Traffic: Even without passing link juice, nofollow links can drive valuable traffic from reputable sources like social media, forums, and comments.
  • Brand Exposure: Nofollow links from authoritative websites increase brand visibility and build your reputation, especially when placed in the right context.
  • Natural Link Profile: A healthy backlink profile includes a mix of dofollow and nofollow links, as an all-dofollow link profile may seem unnatural and could raise red flags with search engines.

The key difference between nofollow and dofollow links is the ability to pass link equity. Dofollow links pass SEO value (or “link juice”), helping to improve search rankings for the linked page, while nofollow links don’t.

Nofollow links are typically used for user-generated content, sponsored posts, or links from less reputable sources, whereas dofollow links are ideal for passing SEO value from high-authority sources to improve rankings.

Google’s Evolution of Nofollow

In 2019, Google updated its interpretation of the nofollow tag, treating it more as a “hint” rather than a strict directive. This means that Google may decide to consider nofollow links for indexing and ranking purposes when it finds them relevant.

Additionally, Google introduced the rel=“ugc” (user-generated content) and rel=“sponsored” attributes, providing webmasters more ways to signal the nature of a link.

Yes, nofollow links can still benefit SEO indirectly. They drive referral traffic, build brand awareness, and help maintain a natural backlink profile, which is crucial for avoiding penalties.

While they don’t pass link juice, nofollow links can contribute to your site’s authority and visibility in a broader sense, helping establish relationships with other websites and generating more opportunities for dofollow links in the future.

To maximize the benefits of nofollow links, follow these best practices:

  • Use Nofollow for Paid Links: Always mark sponsored or paid links as nofollow to comply with Google’s guidelines.
  • Diversify Your Link Profile: Ensure a balanced mix of nofollow and dofollow links to create a natural backlink profile.
  • Nofollow for User-Generated Content: Use nofollow for comments, forum posts, and other user-generated links to avoid passing SEO value to potentially harmful sites.
  • Nofollow Links Are Useless: Many assume nofollow links have no value, but they can still drive referral traffic and increase brand awareness.
  • Nofollow Links Harm SEO: Nofollow links don’t harm your SEO—they help create a balanced link profile and prevent penalties from improper linking.

Conclusion

While nofollow links don’t directly pass SEO value or link equity, they are still valuable for driving referral traffic, building brand awareness, and maintaining a natural backlink profile. Google’s evolving interpretation of nofollow links and their impact on SEO means they can still play a role in search visibility and ranking.

For a balanced and effective SEO strategy, a mix of both nofollow and dofollow links is essential. Nofollow links contribute indirectly to long-term SEO success and overall site authority.

Useful Links:

  1. Moz: The Nofollow Tag Explained
  2. Ahrefs: Nofollow Links Explained
  3. Search Engine Journal: What are Nofollow Links?

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a nofollow link?

    A nofollow link is a hyperlink with a tag that tells search engines not to pass SEO value or link equity to the linked page.

  • How do nofollow links differ from dofollow links?

    Nofollow links don’t pass link juice, while dofollow links contribute to the SEO ranking of the linked site.

  • Do nofollow links affect SEO rankings?

    While nofollow links don’t directly affect rankings, they can still drive referral traffic and help with visibility.

  • Why were nofollow links introduced?

    Nofollow was created by Google to prevent spammy or manipulative link building, especially in comments and forums.

  • Should I use nofollow tags for paid links?

    Yes, it’s important to add the nofollow tag to paid or sponsored links to comply with Google’s guidelines.

  • Can Google still crawl nofollow links?

    Yes, Google can still crawl nofollow links, but it may choose not to pass SEO value to the destination page.

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