Let’s be honest – nofollow links don’t sound exciting. The name alone feels like a dead end. For years, they’ve been labeled as second-tier, tossed aside because they don’t “pass authority.” But if you’ve ever dismissed them completely, it might be time for a rethink.
While nofollow links don’t directly boost your Google rankings, they play a quieter, behind-the-scenes role that’s still worth understanding. In the real world of SEO, where things are rarely black and white,they can help build trust, drive traffic, and even spark future backlinks. So, are they useless? Not quite. Let’s break down where they actually fit in your overall strategy.
What Are Nofollow Links, Really?
Before diving into what nofollow links can or can’t do for SEO, we need to be clear about what they are.
A nofollow link is just like any other hyperlink, except it comes with a tag in the code that says rel=”nofollow”. That tiny bit of code is a signal to search engines: don’t pass PageRank (or link equity) to the linked page.
This tag was introduced by Google back in 2005 to fight spam, especially in blog comments and forums where people would drop questionable links just to try to boost their rankings. The idea was simple: prevent abuse, maintain integrity, and reduce manipulation of the search algorithm.
So nofollow links don’t directly help the page they point to rank higher. That’s the general rule. But, as with most things in SEO, it’s not the full story.
How We Think About Nofollow Links at Lengreo
At Lengreo, we don’t sit around chasing nofollow links like they’re secret SEO gold. But we also don’t ignore them the way some teams used to in the past. In any real, modern outreach or visibility campaign, you’re going to run into link placements that are nofollow by default – social platforms, news syndication sites, directories, and certain business listings are good examples.
What matters to us isn’t the tag itself, but how that link fits into your broader SEO picture. If a mention or placement brings real people to your site, builds awareness in the right circles, or connects you with an audience that might link back organically later, we see value in it. You won’t read us saying “nofollow links boost PageRank,” because they don’t. But you will see us treat them as part of a healthy, diversified link profile that supports long‑term growth.
And of course, when it comes to things like sponsored placements, affiliate content, or any situation where a link could trigger a penalty if mishandled, we make sure the right attributes are used. It’s not about overengineering every link – it’s about being smart and compliant while still expanding your brand presence where it matters most.
So Do Nofollow Links Help SEO or Not?
Let’s be real for a second. If you’re looking for a one-word answer, it’s this: indirectly.
Nofollow links don’t pass link authority like dofollow links do. But they’re not useless. In fact, they play several important roles in modern SEO that people often overlook.
Here’s how they can still contribute to your SEO success:
1. They Drive Referral Traffic
Nofollow or not, a link is still clickable. If it’s placed on a high-traffic page, people will still see it, click it, and land on your site. And if your site does its job – engaging design, helpful content, fast load speed – those visitors might stick around, subscribe, share, or buy.
Traffic is still traffic. And in a world where user engagement increasingly matters to search engines, this kind of indirect impact shouldn’t be ignored.
2. They Support a Natural Link Profile
If your backlink profile is 100% dofollow links, that can look suspicious,especially if most of them are keyword-stuffed anchors from brand-new blogs. Search engines expect a mix. That’s just how the internet naturally works.
Having some nofollow links in your backlink mix shows you’re not gaming the system. You’re getting attention from a variety of sources, which makes your link profile look organic. And yes, Google does care about that.
3. They Can Lead to Dofollow Links Later
Here’s a scenario that plays out more often than you’d think: a blogger finds your site through a nofollow link on a forum or Reddit thread. They like what you’re doing, so they include you in their next article – with a dofollow link.
That first nofollow link didn’t give you SEO juice directly. But it helped someone discover you, and that led to a more valuable backlink. It’s a long game.
4. They Still Help With Indexing
Search engines may crawl nofollow links, but it’s not guaranteed, as the directive is treated as a hint rather than a rule. While they may not pass authority, they do help bots discover new content, especially if the link points to a page that isn’t yet well connected.
If you’re launching a new page or have a content-heavy site, a few nofollow links from places that get crawled often (like news sites or social media) can help get your pages indexed faster.
Common Places You’ll Find Nofollow Links
Understanding where nofollow links show up naturally can help you plan your strategy. Here’s where they often appear:
- Blog comments and forum posts.
- Social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit).
- Wikipedia and other reference-style sites.
- Press releases and sponsored content.
- Review platforms and business directories.
- Paid ad placements (which should always be nofollow or rel=”sponsored”).
Some platforms mark all outbound links as nofollow by default, just to protect themselves from spam. It’s not personal, it’s policy.
When Should You Use Nofollow Links?
It’s not just about getting them. Sometimes, you need to use them on your own site. Here’s when it makes sense:
- Paid or sponsored content: If someone paid for placement on your site, you should nofollow those links. It keeps things clean with Google.
- Affiliate links: Whether you’re running an Amazon blog or promoting software, affiliate links should generally be nofollowed or marked rel=”sponsored” to avoid penalties.
- User-generated content: Comments, guestbooks, or forums – any place where you can’t fully control what users post – should default to nofollow. It’s a safety net.
- Low-trust or off-topic sites: If you link to something you don’t fully endorse or that feels off-topic, nofollow can be a smart choice.
- Internal links you don’t want indexed: In rare cases, you might want to use robots.txt disallow or noindex meta tags for internal pages like login portals or utility pages that don’t need to rank.
Avoid These Nofollow Mistakes
Not all uses of nofollow are helpful. Sometimes, they’re just…wrong. Here are a few missteps you can take:
Nofollowing Every Outbound Link
It might seem safer to nofollow all external links, but overdoing it sends the wrong message. If everything on your site says “I don’t trust this,” search engines might start wondering why. Use nofollow where it makes sense, like for low-trust or sponsored content, but let the valuable links do their job.
Nofollowing All Internal Links by Default
Unless you’re linking to a login page or something that really shouldn’t be crawled, keep your internal links open. Google uses these connections to understand your site. Cutting that off with nofollow can block indexing and hurt visibility where it matters most.
Skipping Nofollow or Sponsored Tags on Paid Links
If you’re placing links in paid content – sponsorships, ads, affiliate deals – those links should never pass PageRank. That’s what rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored” is for. It’s not just best practice, it’s part of staying penalty-free in the long run.
Trying to Control PageRank Flow with Nofollow
Trying to control PageRank flow by nofollowing certain pages used to be a strategy. But that was years ago. Search engines no longer honor nofollow as a way to sculpt PageRank. While the tag is still used, it doesn’t allow you to channel link equity like it once did. Instead of trying to “game” internal flow, focus on strong structure and useful content that naturally earns authority.
Bottom Line: Where Nofollow Links Fit Into SEO Today
Nofollow links aren’t a shortcut to ranking higher. They’re not a magic bullet. But they do matter – just not in the way many people expect.
They help shape a healthy, believable link profile. They send real people to your site. They expand your reach across platforms where traditional dofollow links might be hard to get. And they keep your SEO clean by following search engine rules.
Used wisely, nofollow links are part of a modern, resilient SEO strategy. Not everything that matters in SEO shows up in a domain authority score. Sometimes, it’s the stuff happening just outside the spotlight that helps the most.
Quick Recap: What You Should Know About Nofollow Links
Here’s a summary of the key takeaways:
- Nofollow links generally don’t pass link equity, but search engines may choose to consider them as hints depending on context.
- They bring referral traffic and brand exposure, and can lead to more valuable backlinks.
- A mix of dofollow and nofollow links is essential for a natural backlink profile.
- Use nofollow links for sponsored content, affiliate links, and UGC.
- Monitor your links using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog.
- Avoid overusing nofollow or applying it without a clear purpose.
Final Thought
SEO isn’t just about ticking technical boxes. It’s about earning visibility in ways that feel natural and useful – both to search engines and to real people. And in that context, nofollow links still earn their keep.
If you’re playing the long game (and you should be), don’t discount them. Use them strategically, monitor how they’re helping, and keep your eyes on what actually matters: building a site that people and search engines trust.
