When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), links are crucial for boosting a website’s visibility and ranking. However, not all links are created equal. Some links you want to be followed by search engines, while others you might want to keep out of search engine calculations. This is where the “nofollow” attribute comes in.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what a nofollow link is, why you might want to use it, and how to add nofollow to a link for SEO purposes.
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is an HTML attribute that tells search engines not to pass on any link juice (ranking power) from one page to another. This essentially means that search engines like Google will ignore the link in terms of SEO ranking.
Here’s what a nofollow link looks like in HTML:
<a href="https://www.example.com" rel="nofollow">Example Link</a>
This tells search engines that the link should not contribute to the linked page’s ranking in search engine results.
Why Use Nofollow Links?
There are several reasons why you might choose to add a nofollow attribute to a link:
1. Paid Links
Google’s guidelines state that any paid links or advertisements must be marked as nofollow to prevent manipulation of search rankings. If you’re running paid ads or sponsored content, using the nofollow attribute ensures that you’re not violating Google’s guidelines.
2. User-Generated Content (UGC)
When you allow users to comment on your blog or post user-generated content on your site (such as reviews or forum posts), you don’t want search engines to follow those links unless they are trustworthy. This is because user-generated links can sometimes be spammy, and adding nofollow helps protect your site’s credibility.
3. Affiliate Links
Affiliate links can be another area where you should use nofollow. While affiliate links can drive sales and revenue, adding the nofollow attribute ensures that you don’t unintentionally pass link equity to external websites.
4. Untrusted Sources
If you’re linking to a website that you don’t fully trust (e.g., a source that may have low-quality content or could potentially harm your SEO efforts), it’s a good idea to use a nofollow link to prevent any SEO risk.
5. Control Over Link Equity
Nofollow links give you more control over your site’s link equity. If you want to pass on value only to trusted and authoritative pages, you can apply nofollow to the rest.
How to Add Nofollow to a Link
Adding the nofollow attribute to a link is simple and can be done in a few steps. Whether you’re working within the HTML of your website or using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, here’s how you can do it:
1. Adding Nofollow in HTML
If you’re manually coding a webpage or blog post, you can add the nofollow attribute directly to the HTML of a link. Here’s an example:
<a href="https://www.example.com" rel="nofollow">Visit Example</a>
This code tells search engines not to follow the link to “example.com.”
href="https://www.example.com"is the destination URL.rel="nofollow"is the key attribute that tells search engines not to follow this link.- The text between the
<a>and</a>tags (“Visit Example”) is the clickable text on your webpage.
2. Adding Nofollow in WordPress
In WordPress, you can add nofollow to a link in the editor without needing to touch the code. Here’s how:
- Open the Post or Page Editor: Go to the post or page where you want to add the nofollow link.
- Insert a Link: Highlight the text you want to turn into a hyperlink and click on the link icon (usually a chain link symbol).
- Edit the Link: In the pop-up window, paste the URL of the link you want to add.
- Add the Nofollow Attribute: Click the gear icon next to the link. In the options, you should see a checkbox labeled “Add rel=nofollow.” Check this box, and the nofollow attribute will automatically be added.
- Save the Changes: Click Update to save your changes.
3. Adding Nofollow in Wix
For Wix, the process is similarly straightforward:
- Select the Link: Click the text or image that you want to link to.
- Open Link Settings: In the settings, look for a “rel” field.
- Add Nofollow: Type
nofollowin the “rel” field to tell search engines not to follow the link. - Save: Click Done to apply the changes.
4. Using Plugins for Nofollow Links (For CMS Users)
If you’re using a CMS that doesn’t allow you to manually edit HTML, you can use a plugin or extension to add nofollow attributes to links.
- Yoast SEO: In WordPress, the Yoast SEO plugin allows you to quickly add nofollow to any external links. Simply check the box that says “Add rel=nofollow to external links” in the Yoast SEO settings.
- Link Manager: Some WordPress plugins, like Link Manager or Ultimate Nofollow, can automate the process of adding nofollow to certain types of links, such as affiliate links.
Best Practices for Nofollow Links
While nofollow links are useful for SEO purposes, it’s important to use them strategically. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
1. Avoid Overusing Nofollow
Nofollow links can be helpful, but overusing them could limit your site’s potential for link-building. Use nofollow when necessary, but don’t go overboard. It’s important to strike a balance between followed and nofollow links for optimal SEO performance.
2. Monitor Your Links
Regularly review your external links to ensure that you’re using the nofollow attribute where appropriate. For example, you may have a few affiliate links or paid links that need nofollow, or user-generated content that could benefit from it.
3. Do Not Use Nofollow for Internal Links
For internal links (links that point to other pages on your own website), you should avoid using nofollow. These links help search engines crawl and index your site, so marking them as nofollow could harm your SEO.
4. Don’t Rely on Nofollow for SEO Spam Control
While nofollow can prevent link juice from being passed to low-quality sites, it’s not a replacement for manual spam control. Keep an eye on comments and user-generated content, and remove any links that appear spammy.
Conclusion
Adding a nofollow attribute to a link is a simple yet effective way to control your site’s SEO and prevent search engines from following specific links. Whether you’re working with paid links, user-generated content, or affiliate links, knowing when and how to use the nofollow attribute is key to maintaining a healthy SEO strategy.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to properly manage your links and ensure that your site stays in good standing with search engines like Google.
