Nofollow Links

What Does a Nofollow Link Look Like?

A nofollow link includes the rel="nofollow" attribute inside the anchor tag. For example: <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>.

This attribute tells search engines that the link should not be treated as an endorsement. Other similar attributes include rel="sponsored" for paid links and rel="ugc" for user-generated content.

You can also use multiple rel values together, like rel="nofollow ugc".

To understand how this fits into broader link strategies, see Link for an overview of link types.

When Should You Use Nofollow Links?

Use nofollow links in situations where you cannot or do not want to vouch for the linked page. Common cases include:

For example, if you run a blog with comments, applying nofollow to all comment links prevents spam from affecting your site's trust. Similarly, if you place a paid advertisement on your site, using nofollow ensures compliance with Google's guidelines.

Another scenario is linking to a site you suspect may be low quality or untrustworthy. In such cases, nofollow protects your site from being associated with that content.

• Paid or sponsored links, to comply with Google's guidelines.
• Links in user-generated content like comments or forum posts, where you cannot control quality.
• Links to untrusted or low-quality sites that you do not want to endorse.
• Links in widgets or advertisements that are not editorially placed.

How Does Google Treat Nofollow Links Today?

Before 2020, nofollow was a strict directive: Google would not follow or count the link. Since March 2020, Google treats nofollow as a hint, meaning it may still crawl the link and use it for ranking signals in some cases.

Google may choose to use nofollow links for discovery of new pages or as a signal about the linking page's trust. However, there is no guarantee that a nofollow link will pass ranking value.

For more on related concepts, see noindex nofollow.

This change means that a nofollow link can sometimes influence rankings, though it is not guaranteed.

Do Nofollow Links Provide Any SEO Value?

Yes, but mostly indirect value. A nofollow link can drive referral traffic, increase brand visibility, and help search engines discover your content. A natural link profile includes nofollow links, which can signal authenticity.

For local seo links, nofollow citations can still boost local visibility through consistent NAP information.

Check dead link checker to ensure nofollow links do not point to broken pages, which can harm user experience.

Finding Dofollow Backlinks is a common goal, but don't ignore nofollow links entirely.

When building seo external links, a mix of nofollow and dofollow links appears more natural to search engines.

Common Myths About Nofollow Links

One common myth is that nofollow links are worthless. In reality, they can bring traffic and contribute to a balanced link profile. For example, a nofollow link from a high-traffic news site can send thousands of visitors to your site, even if it does not pass ranking credit.

Another myth is that nofollow never passes ranking value. Since 2020, Google may treat them as hints, meaning they can influence rankings in some cases, though this is not guaranteed.

A third myth is that all outbound links should be nofollow. This looks unnatural and may reduce your site's credibility. A healthy link profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links.

To understand how how backlink works in practice, remember that nofollow links are part of a natural ecosystem.

• Myth: Nofollow links are worthless. Reality: They can bring traffic and contribute to a balanced link profile.
• Myth: Nofollow never passes ranking value. Reality: Since 2020, Google may treat them as hints.
• Myth: All outbound links should be nofollow. Reality: This looks unnatural and may reduce your site's credibility.