What Is a Nofollow Link? (And Why It Matters for Your SEO Strategy)

While including links in your content, you may have seen different tags there. And one of them is “nofollow.” 

Nofollow link is an important component of link building. They may help you improve your ranking if nofollow links SEO is done correctly. That's why it's crucial to know when to employ them and when not to.

We, the best SEO company in Kolkata, cover what is nofollow link in this post and why they're important for your website. 

What Is A Nofollow Link?

It's impossible to lower the value of links in SEO.

However, there are situations when you don't want search engines to pursue a certain link.

Nofollow tag is helpful in this situation. When you include it in a link, it notifies search engines that the link should be ignored and not used when indexing sites.

So, your rankings will be unaffected.

Want to know what nofollow link HTML looks like? 

<a href=”https://www.abc.com” rel=”nofollow”>

Besides basic Google nofollow, there are additional tags. Let's have a look at the distinctions between them.

What's The Difference Between Sponsored, UGC, and Nofollow Links?

• Sponsored - a nofollow tag that implies you've been paid to promote it or the links are for commercial purposes.
• UGC - a nofollow tag for comments and forum posts. So, people can’t take advantage of the UGC tag and post spamming links.
• Nofollow - When the other two don't apply and you don't want to pass your SEO power.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Nofollow Link?

By inserting a nofollow link on your pages, boost the SEO of your website. You may use these links on your website because:

• Look Natural: Make one link dofollow and the other nofollow if you use the same link numerous times on a page.
• Indicate That You Have Been Paid: Clear that you're being paid to promote, or the link is commercial. It will enhance your ranks and domain authority.
• Spam Prevention: The UGC nofollow link is the most effective approach to generate relevant comments on your website.
• Don't Want to Share Your SEO Advantage: Inform that you don't want to share your juice. It applies to links of rivals, dubious sources, or irrelevant sites to your sector.

How Do You Determine Whether a Link Has a Nofollow Tag?

1. Open "View page source" of your browser.
2. Then, in the HTML code, check for the link.
3. If rel="nofollow" is included, it is nofollowed. The links are dofollow by default.

There are also many Chrome plugins like Strike Out Nofollow Links to find them.

So, that’s all for what is nofollow link and their usage. As SEO experts Kolkata, we suggest including them inappropriate places. So, they will boost your ranking and link profile.

Nofollow and Dofollow Links: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the difference between nofollow and dofollow links is crucial for developing an effective SEO strategy. Dofollow links allow search engines to follow the link and pass on link juice or authority to the destination site. On the other hand, nofollow links do not pass link authority. However, both types of links have their own place in building a balanced backlink profile.

While dofollow backlinks contribute directly to your ranking, nofollow backlinks still bring referral traffic and build trust if they come from high-authority websites. So, use the nofollow attribute when you're linking to external links that you don’t want to endorse fully.

Recommended: Detailed SEO Explanation- Everything You Need to Know for SEO Strategy!

When to Use the Nofollow Attribute

You should use the nofollow tag in specific cases, such as:

• For sponsored or paid links to stay compliant with Google’s webmaster guidelines.
• When linking to user-generated content (UGC) that may not always be trustworthy.
• For affiliate links or outbound links to products or services where compensation is involved.

The nofollow attribute is also useful when linking to questionable or unverified sources, ensuring that your site does not pass authority to content that might negatively affect your SEO rankings.

Must Read: Top Benefits of SEO for Small Businesses

Nofollow Links and Link Building Strategy

Though nofollow links do not directly pass PageRank, they can still support your SEO performance by diversifying your link profile. In fact, a natural backlink profile includes a balance of both nofollow and dofollow links.

Use nofollow links as a part of your broader technical SEO strategy. They help maintain link integrity and can prevent penalties from Google by clearly distinguishing promotional content. Moreover, even nofollowed links can generate traffic and help you reach new audiences.

Must Read: How To Find Low Competition Keywords For SEO?

How Nofollow Links Impact SEO

While it’s true that nofollow links do not pass direct ranking signals, they still play an important role in your SEO performance. Here's how:

• Drive referral traffic from authoritative platforms.
• Contribute to brand awareness when placed on high-traffic sites.
• Help you avoid using nofollow links improperly, which can trigger red flags in Google's algorithm.

So, while nofollow backlinks may not influence rankings the same way dofollow links do, they shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, links on your website should be optimized based on context and purpose.

Best Practices for Using Nofollow Links in WordPress

If you’re using WordPress, there are plugins available that allow you to easily add nofollow attributes to your links. Here are some best practices:

• Use a plugin like Ultimate Nofollow to manage link attributes.
• Apply the nofollow tag to comment links and forum replies.
• Always review your outbound links and apply appropriate attributes.

Also, make sure to perform regular link audits and check if a link has the correct nofollow attribute when necessary.

Why You Shouldn’t Rely Only on Dofollow Links

While everyone wants high-authority dofollow backlinks, relying solely on them can look unnatural to search engines. Links created organically across different platforms — even as nofollow links on your website — contribute to a more realistic and robust backlink structure.

Remember, links do not pass value just because they are dofollow; relevance, trust, and traffic matter too. Links tell search engines what your site is about, so ensure you're balancing both types effectively.

Monitoring and Managing Nofollow Links

SEO isn't a one-time task. Constant monitoring of your backlinks is essential to maintain SEO health. Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush can help you find nofollow links, analyze your link authority, and determine if links on the page are performing as expected.

You can also use browser extensions to find a link and verify whether it's nofollow or dofollow. This helps ensure that your backlink profile remains clean and optimized.

Conclusion

So, that’s all for what is nofollow link and their usage. As SEO experts in Kolkata, we suggest including them in appropriate places. They will boost your ranking and link profile when used strategically.

A mix of nofollow and follow links shows search engines that your links on your site are natural. Don’t forget — it's not always about what links pass, but about providing value through quality links to your website.

If you need help implementing a smart SEO strategy that includes both dofollow and nofollow links, get in touch with our team today!