Nofollow link
A link marked so it doesn't pass ranking authority, used for paid, untrusted or user-generated links.
In depth
What it really means
A nofollow link carries a rel=nofollow attribute telling search engines not to pass ranking authority through it. It is used for paid links, untrusted sources and user-generated content, so you don’t vouch for the destination.
Google now treats nofollow as a hint rather than a strict rule, and added sponsored and ugc attributes for more precise labeling.
Best practices
- Mark paid and sponsored links appropriately.
- Nofollow untrusted or user-generated links.
- Don’t nofollow your own important internal links.
- Use sponsored and ugc attributes where they fit.
- Keep editorial, earned links followed.
FAQs
What is a nofollow link?
A link marked so search engines don’t pass ranking authority through it, used for paid, untrusted or user-generated links.
When should I use nofollow?
For paid or sponsored links, untrusted destinations, and user-generated content you don’t want to vouch for.
Do nofollow links have any value?
Yes. They can still drive referral traffic and brand exposure, even without passing ranking authority.
What are sponsored and ugc attributes?
More specific link labels: sponsored for paid links and ugc for user-generated content.
Is nofollow a strict rule now?
Google treats it as a hint rather than a strict directive, but labeling paid and untrusted links is still correct practice.
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