What are “nofollow” backlinks?
Backlinks are generally seen as a positive factor for SEO because they act like a vote of confidence for your website from other sources. Search engines consider these votes when ranking websites in search results. However, there’s a type of backlink called a “nofollow” backlink that doesn’t directly pass on this SEO value, or “link juice,” to your website.
Here’s a breakdown of nofollow backlinks:
What are Nofollow Backlinks?
Nofollow backlinks are links that website owners instruct search engines to disregard when evaluating the linked website’s SEO value. They do this by adding the rel="nofollow" attribute to the HTML code of the link.
For example, a typical link looks like this in HTML:
<a href="https://www.example.com">Click Here</a>
If the website owner wants this link to be nofollow, they would add the rel="nofollow" attribute:
<a href="https://www.example.com" rel="nofollow">Click Here</a>
Why Use Nofollow Backlinks?
Website owners use nofollow backlinks for several reasons:
- Sponsored Links: Links within sponsored content or advertisements are often marked as nofollow to prevent them from influencing the SEO of the advertised website.
- User-Generated Content: Links within comments sections, forums, or other user-generated content are typically nofollow to prevent spam and manipulation of search rankings.
- Affiliate Links: Affiliate links, where a website owner earns a commission for referring visitors to another website, might be marked nofollow to clarify that the link isn’t an endorsement.
Do Nofollow Backlinks Have Any Value?
While nofollow backlinks don’t directly pass link juice, they can still offer some benefits:
- Increased Website Traffic: Even though they don’t directly boost SEO ranking, nofollow backlinks can still drive traffic to your website if users click on them.
- Brand Awareness: Nofollow backlinks can expose your website and brand to a wider audience, potentially leading to increased brand recognition.
- Referral Traffic: Nofollow backlinks from relevant websites can be a valuable source of referral traffic, bringing interested visitors to your site.
Overall:
Nofollow backlinks might not directly improve your SEO ranking, but they shouldn’t be entirely disregarded. They can still bring value in terms of website traffic, brand awareness, and potential referral opportunities.