If you’re building backlinks and trying to improve your rankings, you’ve probably wondered: do nofollow links help SEO, or are they just a waste of time? For years, marketers have debated the real value of nofollow links, especially since they don’t traditionally pass link equity like dofollow backlinks. But SEO has evolved, and so has Google’s approach to link signals.
In this blog, we’ll break down how nofollow links impact search visibility, brand authority, and overall backlink strategy, so you can decide whether they deserve a place in your SEO plan. And if you’re searching for a seo agency Houston businesses trust to build a smart, balanced backlink strategy, understanding the true value of nofollow links is an important first step.
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is a hyperlink that includes a special HTML attribute telling search engines not to pass ranking authority (also called link equity or PageRank) to the linked page.
In simple terms, it’s a link that says to search engines:
“You can crawl this link, but don’t treat it as an endorsement.”
Website owners often use nofollow links for:
- Sponsored content or paid links
- User-generated content (like blog comments)
- Forums and discussion boards
- Links they don’t want to vouch for
Here’s the exact tag format:
<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Example Website</a>
Read more: Types of Backlinks
Are Nofollow Links Good for SEO?
Nofollow links may not pass traditional link equity, but they still play a meaningful role in a well-rounded SEO strategy. Understanding how they influence search performance both directly and indirectly helps you make smarter link-building decisions.
1. Direct SEO Impact of Nofollow Links
Google’s official stance going back to when the nofollow attribute was created is that *nofollow links do not pass PageRank or traditional ranking authority. They were originally designed so that sites could link without endorsing the target for search engine ranking purposes.
Google has also said that nofollow links generally aren’t followed or counted for ranking purposes in their own words: “In general, we don’t follow them.”
This means:
- Nofollow links don’t directly make a page rank higher on Google.
- They don’t pass the traditional link equity that dofollow (normal) links do.
Bottom line: if your only goal is direct SEO ranking power, nofollow links by themselves don’t move the needle like dofollow links do.
- No-follow as a “Hint” (Not a Rule)
In 2019–2020, Google changed how it treats nofollow links:
Instead of strictly ignoring nofollow links for crawling and indexing, Google now treats them as a “hint”, meaning it may consider them for crawling, indexing, or contextual signals when it finds them useful.
This change was part of a broader update where Google introduced rel=”ugc” (user generated content) and rel=” sponsored” attributes, all treated as hints to better understand link context.
Even after this update, Google clarifies most nofollow links still do not influence ranking directly.
2. Indirect SEO Benefits of Nofollow Links
Even though the direct ranking impact is minimal or non-existent, nofollow links can help SEO in indirect but important ways:
- Referral Traffic & User Engagement: A nofollow link on a high-traffic website can still send real visitors to your site. These visitors may increase page views, time on site, and conversions. While engagement metrics aren’t direct ranking factors, strong user activity supports overall SEO performance and brand growth.
- Brand Awareness and Authority: When reputable websites mention or link to your brand, even with a nofollow link, it increases visibility and trust. This can lead to more branded searches, stronger credibility, and future dofollow backlinks from other publishers.
- Link Profile Diversity: A natural backlink profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links. Having only dofollow links can appear manipulative. A balanced mix looks organic and helps reduce the risk of algorithmic suspicion.
- Potential for Secondary Dofollow Links: Nofollow links can help your content get discovered by bloggers, journalists, or site owners. Once they find your content, they may reference it with dofollow links, leading to real ranking benefits.
If you want to build a balanced, high-impact backlink strategy that drives real growth, our SEO team is here to help. Reach out to us and let’s create a results-driven SEO plan tailored to your business.
Let’s Turn Your SEO Strategy Into Measurable Results
So, do nofollow links help SEO? While they don’t pass direct ranking authority, they still contribute through traffic, brand visibility, link profile diversity, and potential secondary backlinks. A smart SEO strategy doesn’t ignore nofollow links, it uses them strategically as part of a balanced approach.
If you’re looking to build a results-driven backlink strategy and strengthen your overall online presence, The Maddex can help. And if you’re searching for a digital marketing agency Houston businesses trust for data-backed SEO services, our team is ready to create a strategy tailored to your growth goals.
