Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital to any website’s success. Understanding the basics, like the difference between do-follow and no-follow links, is essential for a successful website.
In this article, we’ll help to uncover what a nofollow link is, why this type of link is necessary, and how this type of link can indirectly benefit your SEO. Take what you can and implement it in your SEO strategy!
Step into the hidden labyrinth of SEO strategy, where we unravel the enigma of the nofollow link. Often overshadowed, this unassuming tool is a tactical game-changer, patiently waiting to amplify your digital marketing efforts.
This article sheds light on the misunderstood yet potent nofollow link, exploring its integral role in the grand tapestry of SEO. We dive headfirst into the depths of its necessity and uncover the indirect ways it can turbocharge your SEO performance.
Consider this your roadmap to outmaneuvering the competition. Use it to harness the untapped power of nofollow links, and watch as your website climbs to unprecedented heights in the SEO landscape. Your journey into mastering the art of the nofollow link begins now.
What Is a Nofollow Link?
In the world of SEO, a nofollow link is a link that does not help boost search engine results, and Google’s PageRank algorithm does not count it.
The reason why it is called a “nofollow” is its link attribute in HTML related to rel=” nofollow”, and it looks like this:
<a href=”https://learnwitheacademy.com/” rel=”nofollow”>
In essence, a nofollow link acts as a signpost in the digital world, guiding search engines but not contributing to the website’s ranking journey.
By marking a link with ‘nofollow’, you’re telling search engines to acknowledge the link but not give it the power to influence your site’s standing in search results.
This subtle distinction plays a crucial role in sculpting a website’s digital footprint, ensuring that you have control over which links bolster your site’s SEO narrative.
Key Takeaways
Unlike do-follow links, nofollow links are not counted by PageRank;
The nofollow attribute rel=” nofollow” was introduced to avoid spammy comments;
With appropriate anchor text, nofollow links can have a positive impact on SEO rankings.
How to Define a Nofollow Link?
A Nofollow link is an HTML tag that tells search engines not to follow or crawl that specific link. This type of link has quickly become a popular way to link to external sites, particularly ones that contain sponsored content.
Just because a nofollow link does not create link juice does not mean it is useless. There are, in fact, specific benefits to using nofollow links.
Maintaining a balanced backlink profile is crucial, and this is where nofollow links play a key role. It’s important to have a mix of both nofollow and dofollow links leading to your website. A website with only one type of link can seem suspicious to Google and may negatively impact its perception by search engines.
In terms of business, a nofollow link can still drive traffic to a website, which can further contribute to lead generation. The one thing to keep in mind is that a nofollow link has to be presented to a targeted audience and on a relevant site. Otherwise, it will only appear as spam.
Strangely enough, nofollow links can lead to new dofollow links, thus improving SEO rankings.
A post with a nofollow link on a website with a lot of traffic (e.g. Quora) can encourage people to include dofollow links on their blogs of that same link. This is crucial for SEO as it ensures organic growth.
Why Are Nofollow Links Important?
The nofollow link was introduced way back in 2005 to avoid spam. People used to post links to their websites in comments on blogs and forums excessively to boost the ranking of their websites in search engine results. This practice falls within the category of black hat techniques, one of many strategies used to manipulate a website’s ranking in Google’s index.
While implementing nofollow links did not eradicate spam, it managed to dampen it to a certain extent. For example, the links in comments on WordPress blogs have the nofollow attribute by default. Moreover, WordPress offers options for making all links on a website nofollow.
As of March 2020, Google took a step further and implemented two new attributes:
- rel=” sponsored” (for advertisement and sponsorship links);
- rel=” ugc” (for user-generated links, typically on forums).
With this recent addition, Google made some fundamental changes to nofollow links.
Now, the attributes rel=” nofollow”, rel=” sponsored” and rel=” ugc” do not function as directives but as hints.
This indicates that links with these attributes are not dismissed as factors in SEO ranking. Rather, they play a role in how Google evaluates and categorizes links within its search engine algorithm.
Dofollow vs Nofollow Links?
To better understand nofollow link technique, it is best to compare them to dofollow links (or follow links).
While both appear as hyperlinks, their functions are inherently different. Contrary to nofollow links, dofollow links are counted by PageRank and help a linked page rank higher in search results.
| Aspect | Dofollow Links | Nofollow Links |
|---|---|---|
| PageRank Influence | Counted by PageRank | Not counted by PageRank |
| Link Equity (Link Juice) | Generates link equity | Does not generate link equity |
| HTML Attribute | No specific attribute (default for any link without ‘nofollow’) | Includes ‘rel=nofollow’ attribute |
| Search Engine Evaluation | Directly influences website ranking | Used for categorizing links without influencing ranking |
| Primary Purpose | To boost SEO ranking and website visibility | To link without impacting SEO, like in user-generated content |
| Usage in Content | Commonly used in main content, trusted references, and high-quality external links | Typically used in user-generated content, advertisements, and non-endorsed content |
| Risk of Penalties | Can lead to search engine penalties if used in manipulative link schemes or if linking to low-quality sites | Lower risk of penalties as they don’t pass link equity and aren’t considered in manipulative practices |
Also, dofollow links do not need any particular attribute. Any link without the nofollow attribute is, in fact, a dofollow link. Simply put, dofollow links are not tagged in any specific way.
It is evident now that dofollow links have great value in search engine rankings. They generate link equity (commonly referred to as link juice) which is a crucial factor in determining the place of a website in search results. Nofollow links do not have this kind of power.
Do Nofollow Links Help SEO?
The general idea is that nofollow links are not counted by Google and thus have no SEO value. But, we described how nofollow links could boost SEO indirectly by spurring content that would include dofollow links.
Adam White, an SEO professional and the Founder of SEOJet did a little experiment. He purchased nofollow sitewide links from high-ranking websites. The anchor text for each link was “backlink software”. As a result, his ranking went to #1 on Google for the searched keyword.
Another proof is a study published on Ahrefs blog. The study illustrates how nofollow links in themselves have SEO value. Like in the previous example, nofollow links, in most cases, appear in the form of anchor text, and anchor text is an essential factor that impacts SEO. In this way, nofollow links do possess SEO value.
Does Google Count Nofollow Links?
Still, does Google PageRank count nofollows links or not? Let’s clarify this one.
First, you should remember that Google announced nofollow links as hints. Meaning that they may get counted by PageRank if they meet specific requirements.
Apart from this, nofollow links are essential for a website’s integrity, and they can do wonders when applied in an appropriate context.
The Bottom Line
A nofollow link is designated by an HTML attribute that signals to search engines not to consider the hyperlink as a factor in ranking calculations. This attribute was created to combat link spam and other manipulative spamming activities. Today, nofollow links continue to be beneficial for webmasters.
Now that you’ve gained essential insights into nofollow link usage and its importance for your website, you’re well-equipped to decide if emphasizing nofollow links aligns with your SEO strategy for your website or business. This knowledge empowers you to make informed choices and boost your online presence towards success!
Nofollow Links FAQs
Link juice is a common slang term in SEO. It refers to the power and value a backlink can give a web page.
The link profile of a web page is the network of links that connect to that website. A more significant number of high-quality backlinks and internal links means a better link profile.
Outbound links are links that lead from your website to other websites. They are typically used to explain a topic better and provide more context.
While nofollow links do not impact SEO directly, they may still provide other benefits. For example, they can still lead referral traffic to your website.
