What is Nofollow?

A Nofollow tag (rel=”nofollow”) is an HTML attribute used to instruct search engines that a hyperlink should not affect the link target’s ranking in the search engine’s index.

It’s used to prevent passing link equity to less trustworthy sites or to signal paid or sponsored links.

The nofollow attribute helps manage how search engines perceive the relationship between linked pages and prevent certain links from impacting search rankings.

Is “Nofollow” Important for SEO?

Yes, the nofollow attribute plays a crucial role in SEO:

  • Controls Link Equity: By using nofollow, you can control the flow of link equity, ensuring that only trusted and valuable links contribute to your site’s SEO.
  • Prevents Penalties: Nofollow helps avoid penalties associated with link schemes or unnatural link profiles by indicating that certain links should not influence rankings.
  • Manages Sponsored Links: It ensures that paid or sponsored links are clearly marked, maintaining transparency and compliance with search engine guidelines.
  • Improves Link Profile Quality: Using nofollow for low-quality or irrelevant links helps maintain a high-quality link profile, which is beneficial for SEO.

The Role of Nofollow Links in SEO

  • Maintaining Trust: Nofollow links signal to search engines that you are not endorsing the linked site, helping maintain your site’s trustworthiness.
  • Balancing Link Equity: By strategically using nofollow, you can ensure that valuable link equity is directed only to high-quality, relevant sites.
  • Reducing Spam: Nofollow can be used to discourage comment spam and other forms of link manipulation by indicating that such links should not influence rankings.

How do you find nofollow links on your website?

  • Inspect Element: Use the browser’s inspect element tool to check the HTML code of a link and see if the nofollow attribute is present.
  • SEO Tools: To find nofollow links and examine your backlink profile, use SEO tools like as Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush.
  • Google Search Console: Google Search Console provides insights into your site’s links, including nofollow links.
  • Plugins: Install browser plugins like “Nofollow Simple” or “Check My Links” to easily identify nofollow links on web pages.