When IT comes to search engine optimization (SEO), there are many factors that can impact the ranking of a Website. One such factor is the use of “no follow” links. In this article, we will explore the shocking truth about no follow links and what you need to know about them.
What are No Follow Links?
No follow links are hyperlinks that contain the rel=”nofollow” attribute in the HTML code. This attribute tells search engine crawlers not to follow the link and not to pass any link equity (also known as link juice) to the linked Website. This means that no follow links do not contribute to the target Website‘s search engine ranking.
No follow links are commonly used in user-generated content, such as blog comments and forum posts, to prevent spam and to signal to search engines that the linked content is not necessarily endorsed by the Website owner.
The Shocking Truth About No Follow Links
While IT is widely believed that no follow links have no impact on SEO, the truth is that they can still have some influence on a Website‘s search engine ranking. While Google has stated that they do not pass PageRank (a measure of the importance of a webpage based on the quantity and quality of its incoming links) through no follow links, they have also acknowledged that they do consider them as a signal for discovering new web pages and for understanding the web’s link graph.
Furthermore, no follow links can still drive referral traffic to a Website, which can indirectly contribute to its overall SEO performance. For example, if a popular blog posts a no follow link to your Website, the click-through traffic from that link can still have a positive impact on your Website‘s visibility and authority.
What You Need to Know About No Follow Links
While IT may be tempting to dismiss no follow links as having no value for SEO, IT is important to recognize that they can still have a role to play in a well-rounded link building strategy. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- No follow links can still drive referral traffic and improve brand visibility.
- No follow links are commonly used in social media and online forums, so IT‘s important to monitor and engage with these channels to maintain a positive online presence.
- No follow links can provide diversity to your backlink profile, which can be a natural and organic signal to search engines about your Website‘s authority and relevance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while no follow links may not directly contribute to a Website‘s search engine ranking, they still have the potential to provide value in terms of referral traffic, brand visibility, and overall link diversity. IT is important to incorporate both no follow and do follow links in your link building strategy to ensure a well-rounded and natural backlink profile.
FAQs
1. Do no follow links have any impact on SEO?
No follow links do not pass PageRank and do not directly contribute to a Website‘s search engine ranking. However, they can still drive referral traffic and provide diversity to a Website‘s backlink profile.
2. Should I actively seek out no follow links?
While IT is important to have a mix of both do follow and no follow links in your backlink profile, IT is generally not necessary to actively seek out no follow links. Instead, focus on creating high-quality, shareable content that naturally attracts both types of links.
3. Can no follow links hurt my Website‘s SEO?
No, no follow links are unlikely to have a negative impact on your Website‘s SEO. They are commonly used in user-generated content and are generally seen as a way to maintain a healthy and natural link profile.
