Do You Follow Nofollow In Seo?
What is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is a type of HTML attribute that can be added to a hyperlink to tell search engines that the link should not be used to influence the ranking of the linked-to website in the search engine's index.
This is often used when linking to external websites that the webmaster does not want to endorse or vouch for in any way. When a search engine sees a nofollow link, it will typically not count the link as a "vote" for the linked-to website, and will not pass any of the link's "link juice" on to the linked-to website. This can help prevent spammy or low-quality websites from benefiting in the search engine's rankings.
Do nofollow links help with SEO?
In general, nofollow links do not directly help with SEO. Since search engines do not follow or count these links as votes, they do not directly contribute to the linked-to website's search engine ranking.
However, nofollow links can still be useful for SEO in indirect ways. For example, a nofollow link from a high-quality, reputable website can still drive traffic to the linked-to website, which can help improve the linked-to website's overall visibility and reputation.
Additionally, since search engines use a variety of factors to determine a website's ranking, having a mixture of both dofollow and nofollow links can help improve the overall diversity and naturalness of a website's link profile, which can be a positive signal to search engines.
How to Check Dofollow and Nofollow Links?
To check whether a link is dofollow or nofollow, you can look at the link's HTML code. Most web browsers allow you to view the HTML code of a web page by right-clicking on the page and selecting "View page source" or a similar option. In the HTML code, a link that is "dofollow" will not have the "rel" attribute set to "nofollow". For example:
<a href="http://example.com/">This is a dofollow link</a>
In contrast, a link that is "nofollow" will have the "rel" attribute set to "nofollow". For example:
<a href="http://example.com/" rel="nofollow">This is a nofollow link</a>
Alternatively, you can use a tool like the "Nofollow" Chrome extension, which allows you to quickly and easily see which links on a web page are nofollow. This can be a useful tool for quickly checking the link attributes on a web page without having to dig through the HTML code.
How to Make a Nofollow Link?
To make a nofollow link, you will need to add the "rel" attribute to the link's HTML code and set its value to "nofollow". For example:
<a href="http://example.com/" rel="nofollow">This is a nofollow link</a>
This tells search engines that the link should not be used to influence the ranking of the linked-to website.
You can add the "rel" attribute to any existing link by modifying the link's HTML code. Note that, depending on how the link was created, you may need to have access to the website's source code or content management system in order to modify the link's HTML code.
You Can Add The "rel=nofollow"
It's also worth noting that, in some cases, you can add the "rel=nofollow" attribute to a link without modifying the HTML code.
For example, if you are using WordPress as your content management system, you can often add the "rel=nofollow" attribute to a link by using the link editor tool in the WordPress editor. This can be a quick and easy way to make a nofollow link without having to dig into the HTML code.
Should Affiliate Links be NoFollow?
Affiliate links are typically considered "sponsored" links, and as such, it is generally recommended that they be marked as nofollow. This is because search engines do not want to endorse or vouch for sponsored links in their search results, and marking affiliate links as nofollow allows search engines to understand that the links should not be used to influence the ranking of the linked-to website.
Additionally, using nofollow on affiliate links can help prevent potential problems with search engine guidelines, such as if a website is seen as trying to manipulate search engine rankings by using affiliate links.
Should Internal Links be Nofollow?
In general, it is not necessary to use the nofollow attribute on internal links within your own website. Internal links are links that point to other pages on the same website, and these links are typically considered "natural" links that help search engines understand the structure and content of the website.
Using the nofollow attribute on internal links can actually harm the website's search engine ranking, as it prevents search engines from following and indexing these links, which can make it harder for them to understand and assess the website's content.
There are some exceptions to this rule, however.
For example, if you have a page on your website that you do not want search engines to index (for example, a login page or a page with sensitive information), you can use the nofollow attribute on the links to that page to prevent search engines from following those links.
Additionally, if you have a large website with a complex link structure, using nofollow on some of the less important links can help search engines crawl and index the website more efficiently. However, in general, it is best to avoid using nofollow on most internal links.
When to Use Nofollow Links?
Nofollow links can be useful in a number of different situations. Some common reasons to use nofollow links include:
To link to external websites that you do not endorse or vouch for. For example, if you are linking to a website that you do not trust or have not verified the quality of, you can use a nofollow link to prevent search engines from using that link to influence the ranking of the linked-to website.
To link to pages that are considered "sponsored" or "paid" content. This includes affiliate links, sponsored blog posts, or other content that has been paid for or sponsored by a third party. Using nofollow on these links can help prevent potential problems with search engine guidelines, and can also help search engines understand the nature of the link.
To link to pages that you do not want search engines to index. For example, if you have a page on your website that contains sensitive information or is only intended for a specific audience, you can use nofollow on the links to that page to prevent search engines from following and indexing those links.
To help improve the overall naturalness and diversity of your website's link profile. While nofollow links do not directly contribute to a website's search engine ranking, having a mixture of both dofollow and nofollow - links can help improve the overall naturalness of a website's link profile, which can be a positive signal to search engines.
In general, nofollow links can be useful in situations where you do not want search engines to follow or endorse a particular link.
However, it's important to use nofollow links carefully and intentionally, as using them improperly or excessively can harm a website's search engine ranking.
Are Wikipedia Links Nofollow?
Yes, most links on Wikipedia are nofollow. Wikipedia is a community-driven encyclopedia that uses the nofollow attribute on most of its links in order to prevent attempts to manipulate the encyclopedia's content or search engine rankings.
This means that, while you can still click on the links to learn more about a topic, the links do not pass any "link juice" or influence the linked-to website's search engine ranking.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, however.
For example, links to some official websites, such as those of government agencies or educational institutions, may not use the nofollow attribute.
Additionally, some links within Wikipedia may not use the nofollow attribute if they are considered "natural" or if they are used for purposes other than promoting external websites. However, in general, most links on Wikipedia are nofollow.
Dofollow Links vs Nofollow Links
Dofollow and nofollow are HTML attributes that can be added to hyperlinks to indicate whether or not a search engine should follow or count the link.
A dofollow link is a link that does not have the "rel" attribute set to "nofollow", and is a link that a search engine will follow and use to influence the ranking of the linked-to website in the search engine's index. In contrast, a nofollow link is a link that has the "rel" attribute set to "nofollow", and is a link that a search engine will not follow or count as a "vote" for the linked-to website.
Using Dofollow and Nofollow links
Using dofollow and nofollow links can be an important part of a website's overall search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.
Dofollow links can help improve a website's search engine ranking by indicating to search engines that the website is endorsed or recommended by other websites.
Nofollow links, on the other hand, can help prevent spammy or low-quality websites from benefiting in the search engine's rankings, and can also help improve the overall naturalness and diversity of a website's link profile. It's important to use both dofollow and nofollow links carefully and intentionally, as using them improperly or excessively can harm a website's search engine ranking.
Can Nofollow Links Hurt You?
In general, nofollow links do not directly hurt a website's search engine ranking. Since search engines do not follow or count nofollow links as "votes" for the linked-to website, these links do not directly contribute to the website's search engine ranking.
However, using nofollow links excessively or improperly can indirectly harm a website's search engine ranking.
For example, if a website only has a small number of dofollow links and a large number of nofollow links, this can indicate to search engines that the website is not endorsed or recommended by other websites, which can harm the website's search engine ranking. Additionally, using nofollow on all of the links on a website can prevent search engines from following and indexing the website's content, which can make it harder for search engines to understand and assess the website's content.
Overall, while nofollow links do not directly hurt a website's search engine ranking, it's important to use them carefully and intentionally to avoid any potential negative effects on the website's search engine ranking.
Do Nofollow Links Have Value?
While nofollow links do not directly contribute to a website's search engine ranking, they can still have value in other ways.
For example, a nofollow link from a high-quality, reputable website can still drive traffic to the linked-to website, which can help improve the linked-to website's overall visibility and reputation.
Additionally, since search engines use a variety of factors to determine a website's ranking, having a mixture of both dofollow and nofollow links can help improve the overall naturalness and diversity of a website's link profile, which can be a positive signal to search engines.
In addition to the indirect benefits to search engine ranking, nofollow links can also be useful for other purposes.
For example, nofollow links can be used to link to external websites that the webmaster does not want to endorse or vouch for, or to link to sponsored or paid content without violating search engine guidelines. As such, while nofollow links do not directly improve a website's search engine ranking, they can still have value for a variety of purposes.
Does Google Crawl Nofollow Links?
Yes, Google crawls nofollow links.
A nofollow link is a type of HTML attribute that can be added to a hyperlink to tell search engines that the link should not be used to influence the ranking of the linked-to website in the search engine's index. However, this does not mean that search engines will not crawl or index the content of the linked-to website.
In fact, Google specifically states in its webmaster guidelines that "nofollow" is a "hint" rather than a "directive". This means that while Google will not count the link as a "vote" for the linked-to website, it may still crawl and index the content of the linked-to website as part of its normal crawling and indexing process. This is because Google wants to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date search results possible, and not following nofollow links would limit its ability to do so.
Overall, while nofollow links do not directly influence a website's search engine ranking, they do not prevent search engines from crawling and indexing the linked-to website's content.
How to Fix Internal Nofollow Links in Wordpress?
If you have internal nofollow links on your WordPress website, you can fix them by modifying the links' HTML code. Here are the steps to do this:
Log in to your WordPress website and go to the page or post where the nofollow link is located.
Click on the link to edit it. This will open the link editor tool.
In the link editor tool, click on the "Advanced" tab.
In the "Link Attributes" section, delete the "rel=nofollow" attribute from the link's HTML code.
Click "Update" to save the changes to the link.
Fix Internal Nofollow Links by Editing the HTML Code Directly
Alternatively, you can fix internal nofollow links by editing the HTML code directly.
Here are the steps to do this:
Log in to your WordPress website and go to the page or post where the nofollow link is located.
Click on the "Text" tab in the WordPress editor to view the page's HTML code.
Find the link's HTML code and delete the "rel=nofollow" attribute from the code.
Click "Update" to save the changes to the page.
By removing the "rel=nofollow" attribute from the link's HTML code, you will be converting the link from a nofollow link to a dofollow link.
This will allow search engines to follow and index the link, which can help improve the linked-to page's search engine ranking.
It's important to use dofollow links carefully and intentionally, however, as using too many dofollow links can harm a website's search engine ranking.
How Search Engines See NoFollow Link HTML Tag
A nofollow link backlink, is a link that doesn't transfer authority to the website it links to.
Many say these links don't help in terms of SEO. To make a link nofollow, add rel=nofollow to the code when you link to a website.
Tracking links the nofollow tag is a metric many believe matters. Nofollow backlinks are relevant in an overall SEO picture.
If your own site is trying to rank, all the links matter.
Comparing to Your Competitors
Comparing to your competitors - user generated content, forum posts, each blog post, paid links, follow links, outbound links and inbound links, blog comments , anchor text, and every linked website you will learn that the best way to beat a competitor is to see what moves the needle in the Google search results.
Building Links
Building links will always give an SEO boost. Google and other search engines value links, some say the more links the better.
Natural link profiles include external links meaning outgoing links from another site owner. Nofollowed links as we have discussed are links with nofollow attributes. External links from quality sites will improve your link juice.
Link Juice
Link juice is important to understand. If you have the ability to identify links needed to give a SEO boost to another websites page rankings, the power of your domain helps to give weight to each link from your website.
Follow Links
Follow links are a link within your site or inbound links from external sites that have the do follow link attribute.
When creating links there is a fine balance of how and where you receive them.
Paid links can be helpful, however, such links if from a bad network can hurt or be considered toxic.
Blog Linking History
In the early 2000s, blogs began to rise and offer an income from Adsense and various affiliate linked page revenue sites which became hot commodities in the online world. Spammers would comment on blog posts with a follow link back to their own site.
This tactic spread quickly, wreaking havoc with website owners. Skewed search results took over quality sites.
Write Blog Post
Being able to write a blog post today on a quality site often means your will write real content and have it be relevant to the theme of the blog. Irrelevant pages are not helpful to a website.
A guest post you write may offer a do or no follow link with your choice of anchor text to any linked page you choose. If given this opportunity, this is a site you want to include in link building.
Blog comments are also a way to generate link building. Some see blog comments as comment spam. Placing a link in a blog comment is still a link.
In Closing
Nofollow links impact SEO. Always seek both do and no follow links. A website's SEO will include a great link building strategy.
The “nofollow” tag can become a metric in your link building campaign.
Dofollow links, are important. Dofollow links and nofollow links are important to all link building campaigns.
The right link building strategy can generate referral traffic from other websites.
