What is Nofollow?
TL;DR
A link attribute that tells search engines not to pass Page Authority through the link. Use nofollow for paid links, user-generated content, or links you can't vouch for. Since 2019, Google treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive. Related attributes include "sponsored" (for ads) and "ugc" (for user content).
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Frequently Asked Questions About Nofollow
When should I use nofollow links?
Use nofollow (or rel='sponsored') for paid/affiliate links, rel='ugc' for user-generated content (comments, forums), and nofollow for any link you can't editorially vouch for. This protects you from appearing to sell links or endorse spam.
Do nofollow links have any SEO value?
Since 2019, Google treats nofollow as a 'hint' and may choose to count it anyway. Nofollow links can drive traffic and brand awareness even without direct SEO value. A healthy backlink profile includes some nofollow links naturally.
How do I add nofollow to a link?
Add rel='nofollow' to the anchor tag: <a href='url' rel='nofollow'>Link text</a>. For sponsored content, use rel='sponsored'. For user content, use rel='ugc'. You can combine them: rel='nofollow sponsored'. WordPress makes this easy in the link editor.
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