Nofollow Link: The Bloggers Guide

Q: Do nofollow links still have value for my blog?

Yes, nofollow links can still help your blog. They may not pass normal ranking value, but they can still send traffic and help readers find useful resources. A good external link builds trust when it adds proof, context, or a next step. That better reading experience can make your post stronger overall. Think of nofollow as a control tool, not a bad link type. Use it when it makes sense, and keep your focus on helping readers first.

Last Updated April 11, 2024

Are you a blogger looking to control the SEO value you give to external sites when linking to them? NoFollow links are the perfect solution. By setting the relationship of a link to “nofollow,” you can tell search engines not to follow the link or give it any SEO value.

Watch "NoFollow Links: What Are They & Actionable Tips" on YouTube

What is a NoFollow Link?

A NoFollow link is a type of HTML attribute that instructs search engines and web crawlers not to follow a specific link or pass on any link equity (SEO value) to the target webpage. When you add the rel="nofollow" attribute to a link, it essentially tells search engines like Google to ignore that link when calculating rankings.

Why Use NoFollow Links?

There are several reasons why you might want to use NoFollow links:

Linking to Competitors: If you need to link to a competitor’s website, using a NoFollow link ensures that you’re not inadvertently boosting their search engine rankings.
Paid Links or Sponsored Content: If you’re being paid to link to a website or promoting sponsored content, it’s important to use NoFollow links to comply with search engine guidelines and avoid potential penalties. Keep in mind you’ll also want to add rel="sponsored" to sponsored links as well.
User-Generated Content: If your blog allows user comments or has forums, adding NoFollow to links within user-generated content can help prevent spam and discourage people from leaving links just for SEO purposes. Typically WordPress does this for you in the comments section.

How to Create a NoFollow Link

Creating a NoFollow link is simple. Just add the rel="nofollow" attribute to your HTML link tag, like this:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example Website</a>

Of course if you’re using the WordPress block editor you can click the “advanced” area and select that you want the link to be set to nofollow without editing HTML.

Checking if a Link is NoFollow

To check if a link on a website is using the NoFollow attribute, simply:

Right-click on the link
Select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element” from the context menu
Look for the rel="nofollow" attribute within the link’s HTML

If the attribute is present, the link is NoFollow. If it’s not there, the link is DoFollow, meaning it passes on SEO value.

Using WordPress Plugins for NoFollow Links

If your blog runs on WordPress, you can easily manage NoFollow links using plugins. One popular option is the “External Links” plugin, which allows you to automatically add the NoFollow attribute to all external links on your site.

What’s great about these plugins is that they often include an “allow list” feature. This enables you to specify certain links or domains that you want to remain DoFollow, giving you granular control over which external sites receive SEO value from your blog.

Conclusion

NoFollow links are a powerful tool for bloggers looking to control the flow of SEO value from their site. By using the rel="nofollow" attribute strategically, you can link to external resources without worrying about unintentionally boosting their search engine rankings.

Whether you’re linking to competitors, managing sponsored content, or dealing with user-generated links, understanding and utilizing NoFollow links is an essential skill for any blogger. So, start implementing NoFollow links today and take control of your blog’s SEO!

What is the difference between nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links?

Nofollow tells search engines not to pass normal ranking value through a link. Sponsored is for paid placements or affiliate links, and UGC is for links added by users in comments, forums, or other public areas.

You can use more than one rel value when it fits the situation. For example, a paid link can use rel="sponsored nofollow" to make the relationship clear.

Using the right tag helps protect your site and keeps your linking honest. It also makes ad posts, guest posts, and comment sections easier to manage over time.

Should I nofollow all external links on my blog?

No, you should not nofollow every external link on your blog. Normal links to trusted sources can help readers and show that your content is well supported.

Use nofollow when you do not want to pass SEO value to the other page. Common cases include competitor links, paid placements, and links you do not fully trust.

A simple rule is to link normally when it clearly helps the reader. Use nofollow only when there is risk, a paid relationship, or user-added content you do not control.

Do nofollow links still have value for my blog?

Yes, nofollow links can still help your blog. They may not pass normal ranking value, but they can still send traffic and help readers find useful resources.

A good external link builds trust when it adds proof, context, or a next step. That better reading experience can make your post stronger overall.

Think of nofollow as a control tool, not a bad link type. Use it when it makes sense, and keep your focus on helping readers first.

How do I add a nofollow link in WordPress without touching code?

In WordPress, you can often add nofollow from the link settings in the block editor. Open the link options, go to the advanced area, and turn on the nofollow setting.

If you manage a lot of external links, a plugin can save time. Some plugins can add nofollow rules automatically and let you keep an allow list for trusted sites.

After you save the post, preview the page and inspect the link if you want to double check. You should see rel="nofollow" in the link code.

How can I tell if a link is nofollow?

You can check a nofollow link by inspecting the page in your browser. Right-click the link, choose Inspect, and look for rel="nofollow" in the HTML.

If you do not see that attribute, the link is usually a normal followed link. Some SEO browser extensions can also highlight nofollow links, but a manual check is still useful.

This quick test helps before you publish sponsored posts, guest posts, or resource pages. It is an easy way to catch link mistakes before search engines do.

How can RightBlogger help me with nofollow links and SEO?

RightBlogger can help you build cleaner, more SEO-friendly posts, even though you still choose which links should be nofollow. It is useful for planning content, tightening on-page SEO, and reviewing a post before it goes live.

For example, the RightBlogger SEO Reports guide can help you review a page and spot areas to improve. You can also use Auto Optimize for faster content refreshes to keep a post clear, useful, and easy to scan.

If you are starting from a blank page, the RightBlogger AI Article Writer can speed up your first draft. Then you can add or review nofollow, sponsored, and comment links in WordPress before you publish.