What is the Nofollow attribute?
The nofollow attribute is an HTML element that tells search engines not to follow a specific hyperlink. Introduced by Google in 2005, this attribute is typically embedded within the anchor tag in the following form:
<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Link</a>
The original purpose of nofollow was to combat link spam in blog comments by preventing these unwanted links from influencing the ranking of pages in search engine results. When the rel=”nofollow” attribute is added to a link, search engine crawlers (such as Googlebot) do not pass “link juice” to the target page.
Uses of the nofollow attribute
- Sponsored or advertising links: Paid links must include the nofollow attribute to comply with search engine guidelines, thus avoiding penalties for manipulating results.
- Affiliate Links: Affiliate links, being commercial in nature, should include this attribute to avoid any impact on SEO.
- Links to untrustworthy sources: When you want to link to a site with uncertain credibility, the nofollow attribute helps protect your site from the associated risks.
- User Comments: In forums or comment sections, applying nofollow to links posted by users prevents spammers from exploiting these spaces.
Evolution of the use of nofollow
Since 2019, Google has announced that links with the nofollow attribute are interpreted as a “hint” rather than a strict directive. This means that search engines can choose to follow these links or not, depending on their relevance.
New attributes have been introduced to complement nofollow:
- Sponsored: for paid or advertising links.
- UGC (User Generated Content): for user-generated content, such as comments.
Impacts on SEO
- No Link Juice Passage: Nofollow links do not directly contribute to improving the SEO ranking of the target page.
- Essential to comply with search engine rules: Using nofollow for sponsored links helps avoid potential penalties.
Best Practices for the Nofollow Attribute
- Always use nofollow for commercial or uncertain links.
- Separate sponsored links from natural links for a clear and compliant SEO strategy.
- Regularly check outgoing links to assess their relevance and impact.
In summary, the nofollow attribute is a powerful tool to manage a site's outgoing links and comply with SEO standards. Although it limits the transmission of link juice, its proper use contributes to an ethical and effective web strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions For Nofollow
What does nofollow mean in SEO?
"no follow" is a common term for an HTTP header. It indicates that the user's search engine should not follow the link's content. NoFollow helps web admins generate more organic traffic and thereby increase the rankings of their websites.
When should I use nofollow?
The nofollow attribute should be used when you don't want your links to be indexed in search engines (i.e., they should not be found on Google). When you don't want any link from your website to be seen as a result of a search engine's indexing process, users cannot find information.
What is dofollow and nofollow backlinks?
DoFollow is a link style indicating a website is "do follow" or "recommended." It is most commonly used for sites that want to be found in Google search results. NoFollow is the opposite of dofollow, indicating that the site does not want to be found in Google search results.