Hello bloggers! As professionals, you might be well aware of the links you use on your website. These links are very important and matter a lot in your blog’s SEO. One type of link that experts specifically focus on is a No Follow link.
It contains a certain type of attribute that stops search engines from following or passing any link authority to them.
If you want to learn more about a No Follow link, you’re at the right place. Here, I’ll cover what it actually is and why it matters in SEO.
Let’s learn all the basics about it.
What is a No Follow Link?
A No Follow Link is a link containing the rel=”nofollow” attribute in it. It is used to instruct search engines that they shouldn’t follow and or send any ranking signal to the attached page. When search engines like Google come across it, they ignore it and don’t send PageRank or any other ranking signals across them.
It was introduced by Google back in 2005. The search engine launched it in order to deal with comments containing spammy links. No, it has become a significant factor in search engine optimization and experts use it carefully.
If you’re new to the SEO field, it’s important to know that a No Follow attribute is added in the HTML code of the link. Here’s what it looks like:
<a rel=”nofollow” href=”https://google.com”>Ahrefs</a>
Importance of a No Follow Link
The importance of a No Follow Link is a point of debate among SEO experts. Mainly, it does not affect the search engine ranking of a website at all. It simply tells the engine to ignore a certain page.
However, if you look deeply, there are some other factors that highlight its importance. For example, it can be used to attach pages that have promotional or affiliate content. The same goes for pages containing special advertisements.
Adding it to such pages can save your website from penalties. That’s one reason why big websites like Forbes usually use no-follow attributes while external linking. It helps them keep their site authority safe and prevent any penalties.
No Follow Vs Do Follow – The Difference
The primary difference between a No Follow and a Do Follow is how they affect search engine ranking. In general cases, a Do Follow actually encourages the engine to follow and rank a webpage.
Another special thing about Do Follow is that you don’t have to specify them like you do in a No Follow. In other words, it is written simply like any other link on the Internet.
The following comparison table can help you understand the difference better.
| No Follow | Do Follow |
| It tells the search engine to ignore the linked page. | It encourages you to follow the linked page. |
| The link contains the “rel=”nofollow” attribute. | It does not have a specific attribute. |
| It can be used to avoid search engine penalties for promoted content. | This does not have anything to do with penalties whatsoever. |
How to Check if a Link is No Follow?
There are basically two methods you can use to check a No Follow. The first method is simple and includes using the “Inspect” feature that almost every browser has. Here’s how to do it:
· Right-click on any link that you want to analyze.
· Click on the “Inspect” option.
· The browser will highlight the relevant code for you.
· If the highlighted code contains “rel=”nofollow”, the link is a No Follow.
· Otherwise, it will be considered a Do Follow.
The second method is more comprehensive and used by SEO professionals. It involves using keyword analytics tools like Ahrefs and Semrush.
These tools analyze the links of your website and tell how many of them are No Follow or Do Follow. I’ll explain its detailed method sometime later.
For now, take a look at the image below (taken from Semrush) for a brief understanding.
How to Apply No Follow Link Attribute?
As a WordPress blogger, you can easily apply a No Follow Link attribute to a certain keyword. Here are further guidelines:
· First, open a post where you want to add No Follow.
· Select the anchor text and click on the link icon.
· Now, add the link to the text.
· Once done, hit enter.
· Now, click on three dots in the menu bar.
· Select “Edit as HTML”.
· You will see the HTML code now.
· Simply add rel=”nofollow” between _blank” and noreferror.
· Once done, hit the three-dot icon again.
· Now, click on “Edit visually”.
· Your normal link has been changed to No Follow now.
Usage Guide for a No Follow Link
I’ve mentioned the details below:
When to use:
· Use it for pages you want the search engine to ignore.
· You can use it for attaching advertisements and promotional pages.
· It can be used to hide an externally linked source from search engines.
When to avoid:
· Avoid using it to attach to other authoritative websites. It can lower your ranking chances.
· Avoid using it for pages that you specifically want to rank.
Conclusion
Understanding a No Follow Link is very important for SEO experts. It includes the rel=”nofollow” attribute in it. Experts use it to instruct search engines not to follow and analyze attached pages. It usually does not affect your site’s ranking. However, it can be of great use for hiding promotional or affiliate content for penalty prevention. Although it’s a simple factor, you need to use it carefully to get the most out of the links used on your website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to write rel=”nofollow” in every HTML code of a link?
No. Different WordPress plugins can help you write it automatically.
Is there a specific attribute for a Do-Follow?
No. They are usually written normally.
If an authoritative site uses a No Follow to my website, do I still get the traffic from there?
Yes. You will still get traffic even if any other site uses such a link to your site.
