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Do NoFollow Backlinks Help Your SEO?

July 4, 2025 22 min read

Do NoFollow Backlinks Help Your SEO? This question has sparked much debate among SEO experts. Traditionally, NoFollow backlinks were perceived as having little impact on search rankings since they don’t pass PageRank directly. However, recent insights reveal that these links still hold value in driving traffic, enhancing brand visibility, and creating a balanced link profile. NoFollow links don’t contribute directly to SEO by passing authority, but they can aid in referral traffic and visibility, offering indirect benefits. Additionally, these links are crucial in maintaining a natural, diverse link profile, which can positively influence your site’s perception by search engines. Thus, while NoFollow links might not boost your SEO directly, they serve significant purposes that contribute to an overall effective SEO strategy.

Nofollow links are a type of hyperlink found on websites. When a website adds a nofollow tag to a link, it is telling search engines not to pass any ranking power through that link. In simple words, a nofollow link does not give SEO credit or “link juice” to the target page. This kind of link still lets users click and visit a website, but for search engines like Google, it’s just a reference, not an endorsement.

Nofollow links are commonly found in places like comment sections, forums, sponsored posts, or any spot with user-generated content. Examples include Wikipedia references, blog comment links, and many social media profiles.

The rel=”nofollow” Attribute Explained

The rel=”nofollow” attribute is a code snippet added to the HTML of a link. Here’s how it looks:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Anchor Text</a>

When this attribute is present, search engines are instructed not to count that link as a vote for the destination website. This means the linked page does not benefit directly in search rankings from that particular backlink.

Website owners add the nofollow attribute to control their outgoing links and prevent passing authority to unknown, less trusted, or paid sources. It helps keep the site clean in the eyes of search engines. The use of the rel=”nofollow” attribute is a simple, technical way to manage which links may or may not affect SEO.

The original purpose of nofollow links goes back to 2005. At that time, Google and other search engines introduced nofollow links as a way to fight comment spam and link manipulation. Many people used to leave large numbers of spammy comments with links across blogs and forums just to gain SEO benefits.

By introducing the nofollow attribute, search engines gave webmasters a better tool to discourage spammy practices and keep their link profiles “clean.” Over time, the use of nofollow has expanded. Now, it appears on paid links, affiliate links, user-generated content, and even some editorial links where the website owner does not want to endorse the other site directly.

The historical goal was clear: protect the quality of search results by limiting the SEO power spammers and manipulators could get from low-value or paid links. This made it easier to tell search engines which links should not influence rankings.

Technical Differences

Technical differences between nofollow links and dofollow links are easy to spot once you know what to look for. Nofollow links use a special code called the rel=”nofollow” attribute. This part is added to the HTML of a link. It looks like this: <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>. When you see this attribute, it tells search engines not to pass any ranking value through that link.

Dofollow links, on the other hand, are just normal links. You don’t need to add any special attribute for them. If a link does not have the “nofollow” tag, it is automatically a dofollow link. Search engines see these as positive votes for the linked site.

If you look in the source code, finding a link with or without the nofollow attribute is the main way to tell the difference. Most modern browsers also offer tools or extensions to quickly spot which links are nofollow or dofollow on any webpage.

Impact on PageRank and Link Equity

Impact on PageRank and link equity is probably the most important difference between these two types of links. Dofollow links pass something called “link equity” or “link juice.” This means that when a reputable site links to your website with a dofollow link, it can help your site rank higher in Google because some of that site’s authority is passed to you.

Nofollow links do not pass this link equity directly. When Google or other search engines see a nofollow link, they are told not to use it when calculating rankings or distributing PageRank. In the past, search engines would completely ignore nofollow links for ranking purposes.

However, things have changed a bit in recent years. Now, Google says that it may use nofollow links as “hints” which means that sometimes, even a nofollow link can help signal that your site is trusted or popular. But officially, you should not expect nofollow links to pass PageRank or give you a ranking boost the same way a dofollow link does.

In summary, dofollow links help your SEO directly, while nofollow links may only offer indirect value to your ranking. Both have a spot in a healthy backlink profile, but knowing their technical differences and SEO impact helps you make better decisions for your site.

How Search Engines Treat Nofollow Links Today

Google’s Official Position and Algorithm Updates

Google’s official position on nofollow links has changed over time. In the past, Google made it clear that nofollow links would not pass any PageRank or SEO value. These links simply told Google not to count them as endorsements for a page. However, since 2019, Google announced that they now treat the nofollow attribute as a “hint” rather than a strict rule. This means Google may decide to consider some nofollow links in its ranking processes, depending on the context.

Google also introduced other rel attributes like rel=”sponsored” for paid links, and rel=”ugc” for user-generated content. But the basic message from Google stays clear: while nofollow links generally do not pass “link juice”, they can still help Google discover new pages, especially when many reputable sites use this attribute.

Nofollow Links as “Hints” vs. Directives

Nofollow links as “hints” vs. directives is an important change in how search engines use these links. Before 2019, rel=”nofollow” was a directive, telling Google to completely ignore the link’s value for ranking and crawling. Now, as a “hint”, Google decides on its own whether to treat the link as a signal for crawling or ranking.

This shift means nofollow links are no longer guaranteed to be ignored. Google’s algorithms can use their own judgment depending on the trust, authority, and context of the linking site. For example, if a high-quality news site adds a nofollow link, Google may still visit the linked page, or even consider the link as a minor ranking signal.

Other search engines, like Bing and Yahoo, have followed Google’s path. They also see the nofollow attribute as flexible, giving them the freedom to use the link information as they think best.

Changes Since March 2020

Changes since March 2020 are mostly about how Google interprets the nofollow attribute. Starting in March 2020, Google began officially treating nofollow as a “hint” for both crawling and indexing, not just for passing ranking signals.

Before this date, Google strictly did not crawl or pass value through nofollow links. Now, it can choose to follow a nofollow link if it thinks the destination page is important. This update helps with better site discovery and indexing.

For SEO, it means that having a backlink with the nofollow tag is not worthless. Nofollow links might now sometimes bring SEO value, help pages get indexed, or increase a site’s visibility in other ways. However, most nofollow links will still not pass as much value as regular (dofollow) links, but they are no longer completely ignored.

This change encourages webmasters and SEOs to keep a natural mix of nofollow and dofollow links, knowing that even nofollow links may matter more than before.

Direct SEO Impact

Direct SEO impact of nofollow backlinks is a popular topic for anyone who does SEO. Nofollow backlinks, by their original definition, do not directly pass PageRank or “link juice” to your site. This means Google is less likely to use these links for direct ranking power compared to dofollow links.

However, things are not so black and white. Google has updated how it views nofollow links. Since 2020, the search giant sometimes takes nofollow links as a “hint” for indexing and ranking. So, while nofollow backlinks typically have less direct SEO impact than dofollow links, they can sometimes contribute value, especially if the site linking is highly trusted or popular. Even if a nofollow link does not officially boost your ranking, it can still play a role in helping search engines discover your content.

Contribution to Link Profile Diversity

Contribution to link profile diversity is one of the most important benefits of nofollow backlinks. A strong backlink profile usually includes a mixture of dofollow and nofollow links. Having only dofollow links might look unnatural to Google and other search engines.

Nofollow backlinks can help you avoid patterns that look spammy. Search engines expect to see some links with the nofollow attribute because they are common on social media, big online forums, Wikipedia, and large news sites. When your link profile shows both dofollow and nofollow links, it looks natural and healthy, which builds trust with search engines.

Natural Link Profile and Penalty Prevention

Natural link profile and penalty prevention are essential for long-term SEO success. If Google’s algorithms detect an unnatural link profile—for example, if almost every backlink is dofollow or most links come from low-quality websites—your site might be flagged for manipulative behavior. This can result in ranking penalties or even manual actions.

Nofollow backlinks help keep your link profile balanced. Many trusted websites add nofollow to links by default, especially for user-generated content or in comments and forums. By building a natural mix of nofollow and dofollow links, you show Google and other search engines that your backlink profile is earned, not manipulated. This lowers the risk of SEO penalties, especially during big algorithm updates.

Case Studies and Real-World Examples

Case studies and real-world examples make the story clear. Many SEO professionals have shared how nofollow backlinks helped their websites. For instance, people have gained high volumes of traffic from a “nofollow” link on Reddit or Wikipedia. Over time, that referral traffic led to natural dofollow links from bloggers and journalists who discovered the content.

Another example: Some businesses received a nofollow link in a major news article which didn’t directly pass SEO value but led to a spike in brand searches, social media shares, and more high-quality dofollow backlinks. Several digital marketing agencies found that having a natural mix of nofollow and dofollow links protected clients from Google updates that penalized “unnatural” profiles.

To sum up, nofollow backlinks may not directly boost your rankings in all cases, but they offer clear SEO value through traffic, discovery, and a safer, more diverse link profile. Smart SEOs always consider nofollow links as part of a healthy, long-term strategy.

Generating Referral Traffic

Generating referral traffic is one of the most valuable indirect benefits of nofollow links. When your website is mentioned on popular blogs, forums, or social media platforms with a nofollow link, people who read the content can still click through to your site. This brings in actual visitors, even if the search engines do not count the link for direct ranking. Many successful websites see thousands of visits each month from nofollow links placed on high-traffic platforms. These visits can turn into sales, subscribers, or loyal fans. In some cases, the referral traffic from nofollow links can outperform dofollow links, especially if the hosting site has a very active and engaged audience.

Enhancing Brand Visibility and Awareness

Enhancing brand visibility and awareness is another strong benefit of nofollow links. If your website is frequently mentioned across different parts of the internet, more people will start to recognize your brand, even if all the backlinks are set as nofollow. Seeing your brand name on respected websites, comments, and major directories builds trust with users. Over time, this brand exposure helps you become a well-known resource in your field. Even search engines notice brands that get mentioned a lot, which can provide indirect SEO benefits as your reputation grows.

Content Promotion and Viral Potential

Content promotion becomes much easier with the help of nofollow links. Getting your article or product featured on sites like Reddit, Wikipedia, or news websites—even when those links are nofollow—can put your content in front of thousands or even millions of new readers. If your content is interesting, useful, or funny, it has a chance to go viral. People often share things they discover through nofollow links on their personal social media or blogs, which can lead to more links, both nofollow and dofollow. In this way, one good nofollow link can spark big waves of attention for your website.

Supporting Content Indexing

Supporting content indexing is another behind-the-scenes benefit of nofollow links. Sometimes, search engines use these links to find new pages on the web. For example, if a fresh blog post gets a nofollow link from a busy site, Google might still use that link to discover and crawl the new content. While nofollow links were designed to avoid passing SEO value, they can still help search bots reach your pages faster. As a result, your new content might get indexed more quickly than if it had no external links at all.

Impact on Domain Authority and Other Metrics

Impact on domain authority and other metrics is a debated topic, but nofollow links usually make a positive difference. Tools like Moz and Ahrefs still count nofollow backlinks in their domain strength calculations, even though Google officially claims not to pass ranking power. A website with a healthy mix of both dofollow and nofollow links usually has a more natural link profile, which helps in avoiding penalties and improving trust. Nofollow links from top sites signal to algorithms and curious users that your content is worth referencing, even if there is no direct follow link juice.

In summary, nofollow links bring many indirect SEO and marketing benefits. They can deliver traffic, build awareness, support your indexing, and help create a strong and natural online presence. This is why smart website owners pay attention to both nofollow and dofollow backlinks.

Guidelines for outbound links with nofollow are important for keeping your site safe and reputable. When you link to other websites, especially ones you do not fully trust, use the nofollow attribute. This tells search engines not to pass your page’s authority to that site. It helps prevent your website from being linked to low-quality or spammy pages. For example, if you reference sources that you do not want to endorse or are unsure about their quality, adding rel=”nofollow” keeps your site’s reputation strong. Always be careful when linking to unfamiliar sites, as your choices affect your website’s trustworthiness.

Paid, sponsored, or affiliate links always need a nofollow attribute. According to Google’s rules, any link that is a result of payment, sponsorship, or partnership should use rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored”. This prevents search engines from thinking you are trying to manipulate rankings with paid links. Breaking these guidelines can result in penalties. If you promote products, use affiliate marketing, or post sponsored content, always add nofollow or sponsored to those links. This makes your link building ethical and helps you avoid SEO problems.

User-generated content (UGC) links are common in blog comments, forums, or community Q&A sections. These links can be risky because you can’t always control what users post. To protect your website, add rel=”nofollow” or rel=”ugc” to all links in user-generated content. This stops spammy or low-quality links from passing your website’s authority to suspicious destinations. Many platforms and plugins add this automatically to comment sections. Still, it’s good to check and make sure all UGC links are set to nofollow or ugc for maximum safety.

Internal Links: Should You Ever Use Nofollow Internally?

Internal links with nofollow are not common and often not needed. Most websites want to pass authority between their own pages. Using nofollow on your own links can limit your site’s SEO power. However, there are rare cases where you might want to use it. For example, if you have login or admin pages you don’t want indexed, you might add nofollow. Or if you have “terms of service” or “privacy policy” pages, some webmasters use nofollow to tell search engines these pages are less important. Usually, it’s better to let search engines crawl your internal links freely, unless you have a specific reason to block them. In most cases, don’t use nofollow on internal links unless you understand why you are doing it.

Ratio of nofollow to dofollow links is a big topic for website owners who want strong SEO. A natural mix of both nofollow and dofollow backlinks is important for your website’s long-term health. Google expects that every site will have a mix, because not every link can be “trusted” or sponsored.

Having only dofollow links or too few nofollow links can look suspicious to search engines. If your entire backlink profile is dofollow, Google may see your link building as spammy or unnaturally manipulated. Most SEO experts recommend keeping about 30-50% of your links nofollow for most websites, but there’s no exact “perfect” number. The focus should be on diversity and natural growth.

Nofollow links often come naturally from sources like forums, blog comments, press releases, and some social media sites. These links show Google that your content is being shared and discussed across different platforms. This natural ratio helps reduce risks of penalties and makes your backlink growth look healthy.

How to identify nofollow backlinks is helpful if you want to check your site’s backlink profile. Nofollow links are recognized by the rel="nofollow" attribute in their HTML code. Here are simple ways to spot them:

  • View the page’s source code (right-click a page and choose “View Page Source” or “Inspect Element”) and look for your link. If you see rel="nofollow" beside the link, it’s a nofollow backlink.
  • Use browser extensions like NoFollow Chrome Extension or “MozBar.” These tools highlight nofollow links directly in your browser, saving you from digging in the code.
  • SEO tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz offer backlink analysis and will mark each link as dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, or UGC (user generated content). These tools can create lists of all your site’s incoming links and sort by link type.

Checking your links regularly helps you understand which sites are giving you nofollow links and can guide you in your outreach or link-building strategy.

Tools and Plugins for Managing Link Attributes

Tools and plugins for managing link attributes make it easy to control and track which links are nofollow or dofollow on your site. Here are some of the most popular options:

  • WordPress Plugins: If you use WordPress, plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and Rel Nofollow Checkbox let you mark outbound links as nofollow with one click. This is useful for guest posts, sponsored content, or affiliate links.
  • SEO Analysis Tools: Platforms like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Majestic, and Moz not only show which backlinks are nofollow but also help you keep track of your entire backlink profile. You can set up alerts to let you know when you get new backlinks or when attributes change.
  • Browser Extensions: Tools like NoFollow (for Chrome) or NoFollow Simple (for Firefox) visually highlight all nofollow links on any webpage. These help you quickly check pages for correct usage.
  • Google Search Console: While it does not list link attributes, you can export your full list of backlinks and then analyze them with a tool like Screaming Frog SEO Spider to check link attributes in bulk.

Managing link attributes means you always have control over how your site connects in the web, preventing accidental SEO risks and giving you a strong, natural-looking link profile.

Myth: Nofollow Links Are Useless

Many people believe that nofollow links are useless and add no value to a website. This idea comes from the fact that these links do not directly pass PageRank or traditional ranking power according to Google’s original guidelines. However, nofollow backlinks can still drive valuable referral traffic to your site. If a high-traffic website links to you with a nofollow tag, visitors can still click that link and discover your content. This can lead to new followers, customers, and even more organic dofollow links from other sites. Nofollow links also help create a more natural backlink profile, which is good for SEO and can protect your site from penalties.

Myth: Nofollow Links Never Influence Rankings

Another common myth is that nofollow links never influence your search rankings. While it’s true that Google originally said these links would not pass ranking value, their algorithms have changed. Since 2020, Google has stated that they sometimes use nofollow links as “hints,” meaning they may choose to count them depending on the context. If a nofollow link appears on a highly trusted webpage or in a relevant conversation, search engines might still use it as a signal of your site’s credibility. Many SEOs have seen increases in rankings and domain authority from a mix of both dofollow and nofollow links. So, nofollow links can still have some indirect—and sometimes direct—impact on your site’s performance in search results.

Myth: Only Dofollow Links Matter

It’s easy to think that only dofollow links matter in link building, but this view is outdated. While dofollow links usually carry more direct SEO value because they pass PageRank, a healthy link profile should include a mix of both types. Search engines are looking for signals of trust and authenticity, not just raw numbers. If all your backlinks are dofollow, it can seem unnatural and may look suspicious to Google. That’s why top-ranking sites always have a combination of dofollow and nofollow links. Nofollow links can help you reach new audiences, earn brand mentions, and build a diverse backlink profile, all of which contribute to long-term success online.

The truth is, both dofollow and nofollow backlinks have a place in every successful SEO strategy. Embracing both will help you build a stronger, more resilient website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do nofollow links count as backlinks? Yes, they do. Nofollow links are still backlinks because they connect one website to another. Search engines like Google do notice these links, even if their main purpose is not to pass PageRank or link equity. Many SEO tools also count nofollow backlinks in their reports. These links may not directly influence your rankings like dofollow links, but they signal to search engines that your site is being mentioned across the web.

Can Nofollow Links Improve My Rankings?

Can nofollow links improve my rankings? Directly, nofollow links do not pass PageRank, so they do not directly boost your rankings. However, indirectly, they can help. Nofollow links can bring referral traffic, improve brand awareness, and diversify your link profile. These benefits can lead to more people seeing your content, which sometimes results in natural dofollow links and higher rankings in the long run.

Should you disavow nofollow links? In most cases, you do not need to disavow nofollow backlinks. Google has said that nofollow links are usually ignored when it comes to penalties or spam issues. The only time you might want to disavow a nofollow link is if it looks very spammy and is coming from a harmful or unethical site. However, focusing on disavowing nofollow links is usually not necessary, and it’s better to put your energy into managing dofollow links and creating quality content.

Can nofollow links lead to dofollow links? Yes, they can, but not directly. Nofollow backlinks can increase exposure for your content. When more people see your website through nofollow links—on forums, comments, or popular platforms—there’s a higher chance someone will reference your content in their own blog or site using a dofollow link. In this way, nofollow links can help you earn valuable dofollow links over time, as your content gets noticed and shared.

Final Thoughts on SEO Strategy

Final thoughts on SEO strategy should always include a focus on both nofollow and dofollow backlinks. Many people only chase dofollow links, thinking they are all that matter for SEO. But this thinking isn’t accurate. Nofollow backlinks still provide value that goes beyond direct ranking signals. They can protect your site from appearing spammy or manipulative in the eyes of Google.

Good SEO strategy is about building a natural link profile. This means your website should have a mix of different types of links, from different sources, and with different attributes. Search engines are smart enough to see when a link profile looks too “perfect.” If all your backlinks are dofollow, it may look suspicious. Nofollow links help balance your profile and can even send positive signals of trust and authenticity.

You should care about nofollow links because they drive real traffic, offer brand exposure, and help avoid penalties. Relying only on dofollow links can be risky, especially with constant updates to Google’s algorithms. Including a blend of both helps future-proof your SEO efforts.

Integrating Nofollow Links into Your Link Building

Integrating nofollow links into your link building is simple but important. When doing link outreach, don’t ignore opportunities just because the link may be nofollow. Guest posting on big websites, being mentioned in comments, and being listed in forums or directories often come with nofollow attributes. But these links can still generate visitors and boost your online presence.

Aim for a mix of links in your strategy. You can:

  • Participate in relevant discussions where your site may earn nofollow mentions.
  • Accept or request mentions on high-authority platforms, even if they use nofollow.
  • Use nofollow tags when linking out to sponsored content, paid placements, or untrusted sources. This not only follows Google’s guidelines, but also keeps your own site healthy.

It’s good practice to monitor your link ratios using SEO tools. This ensures your profile looks natural and balanced. Remember, nofollow links can turn into dofollow links later if editors update or change their policies. So, every mention is a potential relationship for future value.

Caring about nofollow backlinks and making them a part of your link building is a smart, modern approach. It’s not just about chasing rankings, but about building authority, trust, and lasting SEO success.

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