The nature of search engine optimization implies that one needs to adapt constantly. Through the years, we helped countless businesses navigate the process of building strong online presence at Trigger Digital, including as a SEO agency in West Palm Beach. There are several topics that come up during each SEO strategy meeting. One of those is link building and more specifically, many clients ask us about the value of a nofollow link.
There are many website owners out there who think that since this kind of link doesn’t directly pass any link equity to a webpage, that it has zero value for their search engine optimization efforts. The goal of this guide is to debunk this myth. After you read it thoroughly, you will learn everything there is to know about the way this attribute works and why it plays such an important part in an SEO strategy.
Understanding the Concept of a Nofollow Link
In order to understand what this link is, one needs to learn the definition. A nofollow link is simply a hyperlink that contains a certain piece of code in its HTML tag. What this piece of code does is tell search engines not to pass authority to the destination page. As a result, it becomes a non-dofollow link that doesn’t pass any authority.
Visually, there is no difference between this type of links and regular hyperlinks. One can click it and get redirected to a certain website. The thing is that the tag doesn’t change anything on a visual level. As a digital marketing agency, we often hear clients ask, does a nofollow link help SEO? And we see this attribute used in blog comments, forum posts, and paid advertisements.
Google’s Current Position on Nofollow Links
To understand the current position of Google on the matter, it is crucial to examine some history. The attribute was created back in 2005. It became a necessary tool because of the huge problem with comment spam. Back then, spammers flooded blogs with comments filled with hyperlinks just to increase their PageRank. This tag was created to prevent spammers from succeeding with their tricks.
Over the next decade, search engines strictly ignored all links with the nofollow tag. But, in 2019, the stance on this issue changed drastically. Now, Google sees this tag as a hint rather than as an absolute command. Moreover, two additional attributes for paid links and for user-generated content were created. Today, search engines are free to evaluate the usefulness of this link and consider it when deciding where to rank a certain page.
Is it True That Nofollow Links Don’t Pass Authority?
Since search engines stopped ignoring links that contain this tag, many people wonder whether these links pass any authority. The fact is that search engines still can consider links with the nofollow attribute if they see that the link brings some value to a user and helps with navigation through a webpage, which is why some ask, do nofollow links help SEO?
We recommend that businesses don’t lose sleep over this tag, but keep them in mind. If one wants to improve keyword rankings and get higher in search results, the best approach to take would be to acquire good quality dofollow links. However, one should keep in mind that search engines prefer websites with diverse links.
If there are no benefits related to passing the authority, why do we recommend pursuing them? The fact is that getting nofollow links still can bring tons of value to your business even though they won’t pass link equity directly. First of all, links on major websites can drive targeted referral traffic to your website. A user, who clicks a link on a famous website related to the niche you’re operating in, becomes your potential customer.
Increased exposure to different publications also opens up the opportunity to get secondary dofollow links in the future. Many industry specialists and bloggers can stumble upon your content on the forums or social media websites where it is mentioned. They may like the information provided there and mention it on their websites using a dofollow link. Are nofollow links good for SEO? Perhaps the best summary is that they bring secondary benefits.
FAQs
Are we supposed to pursue nofollow links?
We recommend that your company pursues all kinds of high-quality links regardless of the attribute they have. Getting mentioned in a reputable publication related to the niche in which you’re active is a great way to get brand exposure. Even though such links won’t affect keyword rankings, the referral traffic and exposure make them invaluable. We pay close attention to acquiring links that make sense to our clients.
Can we get penalized by Google because of nofollow links?
There is no danger of getting penalized because of this link at all. Since the purpose of the attribute is to prevent passing authority, no search engines would ever punish a website owner for receiving a nofollow link. On the contrary, getting nofollow links from spammy websites can be helpful since the tag prevents any negative effects. Of course, if you purchase links and fail to mark them accordingly, problems can arise.
How do we check for nofollow links?
It is fairly easy to find out if there is the nofollow attribute in the HTML code of a hyperlink. Right-click on it and select the Inspect option from the menu. This way, you can view its code. If you can find the code in it, then you will know how search engines treat that link. There are various professional browser extensions for digital marketers, and they show all relevant links on a page automatically.
The Changing Nature of Nofollow Link Building Strategies
Now you know how this attribute functions. We don’t expect it to provide any direct benefit in terms of increasing the rankings in search results, even though many still ask, do nofollow links help rankings? But the truth is that getting such links still can help build strong online presence for your company. Getting nofollow links can drive traffic and create a more legitimate backlink profile. We can help you develop and implement the best strategies in digital marketing!