What is Nofollow, and how does it affect your links?

What is Nofollow, and what does it mean?

Nofollow is an HTML attribute that can be applied to a link to indicate to search engines that they should not pass any value to that link. This attribute was introduced to help website owners control how links affect their search rankings and to reduce spam.

The history behind Nofollow

Before the nofollow attribute was introduced, links from one website to another could be perceived as an endorsement. This could lead to problems, particularly with links to low-quality or spam sites. Nofollow was therefore introduced by Google, Yahoo and Bing in 2005 to give owners the ability to link to other pages without passing link value, also known as PageRank.

Are Nofollow links worthless?

No, nofollow links are not worthless. Although they do not pass authority to the linked page, they can still offer several benefits:

Natural link profile: A healthy link profile should include both nofollow and dofollow links to appear natural to search engines.
Traffic: Nofollow links can still drive visitors to your website, which can increase visibility.
Brand exposure: Links from credible sources, even as nofollow, can improve your brand's visibility and credibility.

From March 2020, Google began treating nofollow links as hints rather than strict directives, meaning they may be assigned some value even if they do not directly contribute to search rankings.

How do you create Nofollow links?

To create a nofollow link, the HTML code looks like this:

<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.google.dk/">Google</a>

In many CMS systems, such as WordPress, there are plugins available that make it possible to add the nofollow attribute to links without having to edit the HTML code directly.

When should you use Nofollow links?

Sponsorships and paid adverts: Nofollow links should be used for paid links to comply with Google's guidelines.
User-generated content: Apply nofollow to links in comments and forums to prevent spam.
Untrusted sources: If you are linking to a website you do not trust, it is best to use nofollow.

When should you avoid using Nofollow links?

Internal links: Most internal links should be dofollow to improve navigation and SEO.
Quality resources: Dofollow links to authoritative sources can strengthen your own site's SEO.