Links are kind of a big deal in SEO, they help search engines figure out your site’s authority, ranking potential, and visibility. But not all links are created equal, and that’s where nofollow comes in.
Curious what nofollow is all about? This GetFound article breaks it down for you: its purpose, how it works, and why it’s an important part of a solid SEO strategy. Grab a coffee and jump right in!
Defining Nofollow
Nofollow is an attribute added to hyperlinks that tells search engines not to follow the link or pass any link equity (ranking authority) to the destination page, allowing website owners to control how search engines interpret and value specific links on their site
For instance, when a link has the nofollow attribute, search engines like Google will still see and crawl the link, but they won’t use it to influence the destination page’s ranking.
This helps ensure that link equity is not passed to pages that don’t deserve it or are unrelated to the site’s content. The nofollow is often represented as an attribute within the HTML code of a link.
Why Was Nofollow Introduced?
To understand what nofollow is, it’s essential to consider its origins. Google introduced the nofollow attribute in 2005 as a response to the increasing issue of spammy and manipulative link-building practices.
1. Combatting Comment Spam
Blogs and forums were often targeted by spammers who posted irrelevant comments with links to their own sites, hoping to manipulate search rankings.
By implementing nofollow on comment links, webmasters could prevent link equity from being passed to these spammy pages.
2. Managing Paid Links
Another reason for introducing nofollow was to distinguish between natural links (earned organically) and paid links (used for advertising).
Using the nofollow attribute on paid links ensures compliance with Google’s guidelines and prevents penalties for unnatural link practices.
3. Enhancing Control
The nofollow attribute gives website owners control over how their site’s link equity is distributed, helping to prevent the unintentional boosting of low-quality or irrelevant sites.
How Nofollow Works
To fully grasp what nofollow is, it’s important to understand how it functions:
1. Telling Search Engines Not to Follow the Link
When a search engine crawler encounters a nofollow link, it knows not to follow the link to the destination page. While the crawler may still visit the linked page, it doesn’t consider the link a vote of confidence or pass link equity.
2. Excluding the Link from Ranking Calculations
Nofollow links do not contribute to the ranking of the linked page. This means that even if a nofollow link comes from a high-authority website, it won’t influence the search engine rankings of the destination page.
3. Visibility to Users
For website visitors, a nofollow link looks and functions like a regular hyperlink. The nofollow attribute only affects how search engines interpret the link.
Also Read: Don’t Know Where to Start Improving Your Site Speed? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Common Use Cases for Nofollow
To understand the significance of what nofollow is, it’s helpful to explore its practical applications:
- Sponsored and Paid Links
Links used for advertising purposes, such as sponsored posts or banner ads, should include the nofollow attribute to comply with Google’s guidelines.
- User-Generated Content (UGC)
Links in comment sections, forums, or social media posts are often marked as nofollow to prevent spam and ensure link equity isn’t passed to potentially harmful or irrelevant sites.
- Untrusted Links
If a website links to content that may not be trustworthy or is outside the webmaster’s control, using the nofollow attribute can help mitigate risk.
- External Links in Widgets or Plugins
Links added through widgets, plugins, or third-party tools are often marked as nofollow to avoid unintentional link manipulation.
Benefits of Using Nofollow
Understanding what nofollow is also involves recognizing its advantages:
1. Prevents Manipulation of Search Rankings
By adding the nofollow attribute to certain links, webmasters can ensure that their site doesn’t inadvertently contribute to manipulative SEO practices or violate search engine guidelines.
2. Maintains Link Equity on Important Pages
Nofollow helps control how link equity is distributed, allowing webmasters to prioritize internal pages or trusted external links.
3. Protects Against Spam
In user-generated content areas, using nofollow prevents spammers from exploiting links for SEO benefits, ensuring a cleaner and more trustworthy website.
4. Supports Compliance with Google Guidelines
For paid or sponsored content, using the nofollow attribute ensures compliance with search engine policies, helping avoid penalties.
Misconceptions About Nofollow
While understanding what nofollow is, it’s important to address some common misconceptions:
- Nofollow Links Have No Value
While nofollow links don’t pass link equity, they can still drive traffic and increase visibility. Additionally, search engines may still crawl the linked page, potentially benefiting indexing efforts.
- Prevents Crawling Entirely
Nofollow only prevents the link from passing authority; it doesn’t block crawlers from visiting the linked page.
- All External Links Should Be Nofollow
Not all external links need to be nofollow. Links to authoritative, relevant, and trustworthy sites can be regular links to boost your site’s credibility.
Looking for the Right SEO Solutions? GetFound’s the Answer!
The nofollow attribute is a hidden gem in the SEO toolkit, giving website owners control over how their links are perceived by search engines. From managing user-generated content and running a blog to handling sponsored posts, using nofollow the right way helps keep your SEO strategy clean and ethical.
Struggling with your business’s online presence? GetFound is here to help you tackle those challenges and boost your digital game!
