What is Nofollow links?

Nofollow links - a tag attribute used in HTML markup to indicate that the search engine crawlers should not follow or pass any link equity to an external site. It was introduced by Google in 2005 with the aim of reducing spam content and decreasing the number of irrelevant websites on search engine result pages.

Since then, Nofollow has become a standard element of web technologies, but its usage is still somewhat confusing for many website owners and digital marketers. In this article, we will demystify what Nofollow links are, how they work and when you should use them.

The Pros and Cons of Using Nofollow Links

Nofollow links have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on the context in which they are used. On one hand, they can help prevent spammers from exploiting your website's authority by using it as a source for backlinks.

On the other hand, if you overuse Nofollow tags on your internal links or outbound links too much, you risk losing out on valuable SEO benefits. Because when nofollow tags are applied to all external outlinks (not just affiliate or paid ones), it signals to search engines that there may be something suspicious about those links leading away from your page.

How to Use Nofollow Tags Effectively

The most important thing is to balance your use of the Nofollow tag so that it serves both your users' interests as well as improving your SEO score. If you're uncertain whether a link should be followed or not; consider asking yourself these questions:

• "Is this link pointing towards an untrusted domain?"
• "Does this link impact my website's overall user experience negatively?"
• "Would I still want to link to this page even if it didn't pass any PageRank?"

Remember that Google itself has stated that the Nofollow tag should be used only when you have no other option. And that "every link counts" for SEO purposes, so use it sparingly and wisely.

Nofollow Links - The Bottom Line

To sum up, Nofollow links are an essential tool in your digital marketing arsenal. They can help protect your website from spammy content and maintain its authority with search engines. But they must be used correctly and strategically, balancing both user experience and SEO requirements.

Now that you know what Nofollow links are all about and how to use them effectively let us know in the comments section; how you're using them on your website?