A nofollow link is a hyperlink that tells search engines not to pass ranking authority (link equity) from one page to another. It’s used when a website wants to link to another page without endorsing it for SEO purposes.
In simple terms, a nofollow link says: “I’m linking to this page, but I’m not vouching for it.”
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is created by adding a special attribute to a link’s HTML code:
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>
This attribute instructs search engines like Google not to use the link as a ranking signal.
Google now treats nofollow as a hint, not a strict directive, but it still generally does not pass SEO value.
How Nofollow Links Work
When search engines crawl a nofollow link:
- They may crawl the linked page
- They typically do not pass link equity
- The link usually does not help rankings directly
Nofollow links are often used to prevent spam, manipulation, or unintended endorsements.
Why Nofollow Links Matter in SEO
Even though nofollow links don’t pass traditional link authority, they are still important because they:
- Help create a natural backlink profile
- Drive referral traffic
- Increase brand visibility
- Protect sites from link spam penalties
- Support compliance with Google’s guidelines
A healthy backlink profile usually includes a mix of follow and nofollow links.
Common Uses of Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are commonly applied to:
- Blog comments
- Forum posts
- Paid advertisements
- Sponsored content
- User-generated content (UGC)
- Affiliate links (often combined with sponsored attributes)
These areas are prone to spam or paid link manipulation.
Nofollow vs Follow Links
| Nofollow Links | Follow Links |
|---|---|
| Don’t pass link equity | Pass link equity |
| Used for control & safety | Used for SEO growth |
| Reduce spam risk | Improve rankings |
| Often site-wide | Usually editorial |
Both types are normal and necessary for a balanced SEO strategy.
Nofollow, Sponsored, and UGC Attributes
Google recognizes three main link attributes:
rel="nofollow"rel="sponsored"(for paid links)rel="ugc"(for user-generated content)
These attributes help Google understand the context and intent of links.
Are Nofollow Links Bad for SEO?
No. Nofollow links are not bad at all. In fact:
- They help make link profiles look natural
- They can bring high-quality traffic
- They reduce SEO risk
While they don’t directly boost rankings, they can still support overall SEO performance indirectly.
Best Practices for Using Nofollow Links
- Use nofollow for paid or sponsored links
- Apply it to user-generated content
- Don’t overuse nofollow on internal links
- Focus on user value, not just link equity
- Maintain a natural mix of link types
Using nofollow correctly helps protect your site while maintaining credibility.
Common Nofollow Link Mistakes
- Nofollowing all external links unnecessarily
- Using nofollow to hide poor link practices
- Ignoring Google’s sponsored and UGC attributes
- Expecting nofollow links to boost rankings directly
Understanding link intent is more important than the attribute itself.
Final Thoughts on Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are an essential part of modern SEO. While they don’t pass traditional ranking power, they play a key role in trust, compliance, and natural link profiles. Smart use of nofollow links helps protect your site and maintain long-term SEO health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do nofollow links help SEO?
They don’t pass link equity directly, but they help with traffic, branding, and natural link profiles.
Can Google crawl nofollow links?
Yes. Google can crawl them, but usually doesn’t count them as ranking signals.
Should affiliate links be nofollow?
Yes. Affiliate links should be marked as nofollow or sponsored.
Are nofollow links useless?
No. They still have indirect SEO and marketing value.
Should internal links be nofollow?
Generally no. Internal links should usually be follow links unless there’s a specific reason.