One question I hear quite often is, do nofollow links help SEO, or should you only focus on getting dofollow backlinks? The answer isn’t as straightforward as many people think. Google’s guidance has changed over the years, but many articles still repeat outdated advice that no longer reflects how search works today.
From my experience, many website owners overlook nofollow links because they assume they have no SEO value. In reality, some of the most trusted websites on the internet, including Reddit, Wikipedia, major news publishers, and online communities, use nofollow links. While these links don’t pass PageRank like dofollow links, they can still drive qualified traffic, improve brand visibility, and help create a natural backlink profile.
If you’ve been asking yourself, do nofollow links help SEO, this guide will explain what Google’s latest guidance means in practice, when nofollow links are worth pursuing, and how they fit into a balanced link-building strategy. You’ll also learn the difference between dofollow and nofollow links, common mistakes to avoid, and the best practices that support long-term SEO success.
If you want to build a stronger SEO strategy from the ground up, explore our Digital Marketing Agency for more practical resources. If your goal is to improve local rankings and attract more customers from Google Search and Maps, our Local SEO Services can help you build a stronger online presence.
Understanding Nofollow Links
A nofollow link is a hyperlink that includes the rel=”nofollow” attribute in its HTML code. It tells Google that the website owner doesn’t want to pass ranking credit through that link in the traditional way.
You’ll commonly find nofollow links on forums, blog comments, social media platforms, paid advertisements, and user-generated content.
What Is rel=”nofollow”?
The rel=”nofollow” attribute is added inside a link’s HTML code.
Example:
<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Example Website</a>
This attribute helps search engines understand how the link should be treated during crawling and ranking.
Why Google Introduced Nofollow
Google introduced the rel=”nofollow” attribute to reduce link spam, especially in blog comments and forums where people were creating backlinks only to manipulate search rankings.
Today, nofollow remains one of several link attributes that help Google understand the purpose of a link.
Simple Example
Imagine a news website mentions your business and links to your website using a nofollow link. That link may not pass PageRank like a dofollow link, but it can still send qualified visitors to your website, increase your brand’s visibility, and become part of a natural backlink profile.
Building Backlinks But Not Seeing SEO Results?
A successful backlink strategy isn’t about getting more links. It’s about earning the right links from relevant, trustworthy websites that support long-term SEO growth. If you’re unsure which backlinks are helping your website and which ones are holding it back, a professional SEO review can give you a clear direction.
How Nofollow Links Work
Many people think nofollow links are completely ignored by Google, but that’s no longer accurate. Since Google’s guidance changed, search engines may still use nofollow links in different ways. Understanding how they work makes it easier to build a backlink strategy based on facts instead of outdated SEO myths.
How Search Engines Read Nofollow Links
When search engines find a nofollow link, they don’t automatically treat it the same way as a dofollow link. Instead, they use the rel=”nofollow” attribute as a signal that helps them understand the relationship between the linking page and the destination page.
From my experience, it’s better to think of nofollow as guidance rather than a complete block. Google may still evaluate the link as part of its overall understanding of the web.
Google's 2019 "Hint" Update
One of the biggest changes happened in 2019 when Google announced that rel=”nofollow” would be treated as a hint, not a strict directive.
Before this update, many SEO professionals believed Google completely ignored nofollow links. Today, Google may choose to use them for crawling and understanding content when it believes they’re helpful.
This is one of the main reasons nofollow links are still part of a healthy backlink strategy.
Can Google Crawl Nofollow Links?
Yes, Google can crawl nofollow links.
A nofollow attribute doesn’t prevent Google from discovering a page. If that page is linked from other websites, included in a sitemap, or found through other signals, Google can still crawl and index it.
That’s why a nofollow link shouldn’t be confused with a robots.txt rule or a noindex directive. They all serve different purposes.
Well-organized websites make it easier for newly published or updated pages to be discovered and indexed. Pages that are properly linked are generally found more quickly than isolated pages.
Do Nofollow Links Pass PageRank?
In general, nofollow links do not pass PageRank in the same way as dofollow links.
However, that doesn’t mean they have no SEO value. High-quality nofollow links can still send relevant traffic, strengthen your brand’s online presence, and help create a natural backlink profile. These indirect benefits often support long-term SEO far more than many people realise.
Do Nofollow Links Help SEO?
The short answer is yes, but not in the same way as dofollow links. If you’re wondering do nofollow links count for SEO, the answer depends on what you’re measuring. They don’t directly pass PageRank, but they can still contribute to a stronger SEO strategy by driving relevant traffic, improving brand visibility, and creating a natural backlink profile.
Direct SEO Impact
Nofollow links don’t directly improve rankings by passing PageRank like dofollow backlinks. If your only goal is to gain link equity, dofollow links remain more valuable.
However, judging a backlink only by PageRank is a common mistake. Modern SEO depends on many ranking signals working together, including content quality, technical optimization, user experience, and backlinks. That’s why our SEO Services Dubai focus on building a complete SEO strategy instead of relying on a single ranking factor. Nofollow links can also support your overall SEO efforts through several indirect benefits.
Indirect SEO Benefits
From my experience, this is where nofollow links provide the most value. A high-quality nofollow backlink from a trusted website can introduce your business to a new audience, increase brand awareness, and generate meaningful traffic.
These benefits may not appear as direct ranking improvements, but they can strengthen your overall online presence over time.
Referral Traffic
One of the biggest advantages of nofollow links is referral traffic.
Imagine your website is mentioned in a popular Reddit discussion or a major online publication. Even if the link is nofollow, visitors who click through can become customers, subscribers, or readers.
Relevant traffic is always valuable because it brings real people to your website, not just search engine signals.
Brand Visibility
Being mentioned on trusted websites helps more people discover your brand. News websites, industry blogs, online communities, and social platforms can all increase your visibility, even when the links are marked as nofollow.
I’ve found that building credibility often creates opportunities for future backlinks, partnerships, and brand recognition.
Natural Backlink Profile
A healthy backlink profile isn’t made up of only dofollow links.
Most established websites naturally earn a mix of dofollow and nofollow backlinks from blogs, forums, business directories, social media, news websites, and community platforms. That variety makes a backlink profile look more natural and balanced.
Content Discovery
Nofollow links can also help people discover your content.
When your website is mentioned on relevant communities or authoritative websites, more users become aware of your content. Increased exposure can lead to additional shares, brand mentions, and even new dofollow backlinks from people who genuinely find your content useful.
Direct vs Indirect SEO Benefits
Dofollow vs Nofollow Links
Both dofollow and nofollow links have a place in SEO. They serve different purposes, and understanding when to use each one helps you build a healthier and more natural backlink profile. The goal isn’t to collect only one type of link. It’s to earn the right mix based on where the links come from and why they’re being created.
What Are Dofollow Links?
A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that allows search engines to follow the link and pass PageRank to the linked page. Since no special attribute is added, most links on the web are treated as dofollow by default.
These links can help improve a page’s authority and search rankings when they come from trustworthy and relevant websites.
Key Differences
The biggest difference is how search engines treat each link.
Dofollow links can pass PageRank and contribute directly to ranking signals. Nofollow links don’t pass PageRank in the traditional way, but they can still provide value through referral traffic, brand exposure, and a natural backlink profile.
Both types of links can be useful when they’re earned from relevant, high-quality websites.
When to Use Dofollow
Dofollow links are the right choice when you genuinely trust the page you’re linking to and want to recommend it as a valuable resource.
They are commonly used for:
- Editorial links
- Helpful resources
- Trusted business websites
- High-quality blog content
- Relevant internal links
When to Use Nofollow
Nofollow links are useful when you don’t want to pass ranking signals or when Google recommends using a link attribute.
They are commonly used for:
- Paid advertisements
- Sponsored content
- User-generated content
- Blog comments
- Forum posts
- Links you don't fully control
Pro Tip
A healthy backlink profile isn’t built by chasing only dofollow links. The strongest websites naturally earn a mix of editorial, community, news, and social mentions over time.
Types of Link Attributes
Not every link should be treated the same way. That’s why Google introduced different link attributes to help website owners describe the purpose of a link. Choosing the correct attribute helps search engines better understand your website while following Google’s best practices.
rel=”nofollow”
Use the rel=”nofollow” attribute when you don’t want to pass ranking signals through a link or when you can’t fully vouch for the page you’re linking to.
It’s commonly used for:
- External links you don’t completely trust
- Blog comments
- Forum discussions
- Links added by users
rel=”ugc”
The rel=”ugc” (User Generated Content) attribute is designed for links created by users instead of the website owner.
Common examples include:
- Forum posts
- Community discussions
- Customer reviews
- Blog comments
Using this attribute helps Google understand that the link was added by a visitor rather than the site’s editorial team.
rel=”sponsored”
The rel=”sponsored” attribute should be used for paid links or advertisements.
Examples include:
- Sponsored blog posts
- Paid partnerships
- Affiliate links
- Advertisements
Using this attribute helps you follow Google’s guidelines for paid promotions and sponsored content.
Which Attribute Should You Use?
The right choice depends on why the link exists.
- Use rel=”nofollow” when you don’t want to pass ranking signals.
- Use rel=”ugc” for links created by your users.
- Use rel=”sponsored” for paid or promotional links.
If you’re unsure, follow Google’s recommendation and choose the attribute that best describes the purpose of the link instead of using the same attribute everywhere.
When to Use Each Link Attribute
Where Nofollow Links Come From
Nofollow links are more common than many people realise. Some of the internet’s most trusted websites use them to reduce spam and control how links are treated by search engines. Even though these links don’t pass PageRank in the traditional way, they can still bring valuable referral traffic, increase brand awareness, and expose your content to a wider audience.
Most links shared on Reddit are nofollow. While they don’t directly influence rankings, popular discussions can send highly targeted visitors to your website. If your content genuinely answers a question or solves a problem, Reddit can become an excellent source of referral traffic.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia also uses nofollow links on external references. Earning a citation isn’t easy because the information must be accurate, well-sourced, and genuinely useful. Although these links don’t pass PageRank, they can increase your website’s credibility and introduce your content to a large audience.
Quora
Quora links are typically nofollow, but they can still be valuable when your answers provide helpful information. I’ve found that detailed, well-written answers are more likely to attract clicks than promotional responses. Focus on helping people first, and traffic often follows naturally.
Social Media
Most social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Pinterest, use nofollow links. These links help people discover your content, generate engagement, and encourage others to share it. Increased visibility can also create opportunities for future backlinks from bloggers, journalists, and website owners.
News Websites
Many news publishers use nofollow links, especially in sponsored content or editorial mentions. A link from a respected news website can still bring qualified visitors, strengthen your brand’s reputation, and introduce your business to people who may never have found you through search results alone.
Forums
Industry forums and online communities often apply nofollow attributes to user-submitted links. When you participate by answering questions and sharing useful resources, these links can drive relevant traffic and help establish your expertise. The key is to contribute valuable information instead of posting links purely for SEO.
When Nofollow Links Are Worth Building
Not every nofollow link is worth your time, but ignoring them completely is a mistake. From my experience, the best nofollow links come from websites that can send relevant visitors, strengthen your brand, or naturally diversify your backlink profile. Focus on quality and relevance rather than collecting links wherever you can.
High-Authority Websites
If you have an opportunity to earn a mention from a trusted website, don’t ignore it just because the link is nofollow. Websites with strong reputations can introduce your content to a larger audience and build credibility around your brand.
PR and Brand Mentions
Digital PR campaigns, interviews, podcasts, and online news mentions often include nofollow links. These opportunities may not directly improve rankings, but they can increase brand awareness and create future backlink opportunities as more people discover your content.
Community Participation
Communities like Reddit, Quora, and industry forums can be valuable when you contribute helpful answers instead of promoting your website. I’ve found that genuine participation builds trust, while dropping links without adding value rarely delivers good results.
Traffic-Focused Opportunities
Sometimes a single nofollow link can bring more qualified visitors than several low-quality dofollow backlinks. If a website has an active audience that matches your niche, the referral traffic alone can make the link worthwhile.
Natural Link Diversity
A healthy backlink profile contains both dofollow and nofollow links. Earning links from different types of websites makes your profile look more natural and reflects how reputable websites attract links over time.
Quick Checklist
A nofollow link is usually worth building if it:
- Comes from a trusted and relevant website.
- Can send targeted referral traffic.
- Helps increase your brand's visibility.
- Reaches an audience interested in your content.
- Contributes to a natural and diverse backlink profile.
Common Myths About Nofollow Links
There are plenty of misconceptions about nofollow links, and many of them come from advice that is no longer accurate. Google’s guidance has changed over the years, so it’s worth separating old SEO myths from what actually happens today.
Nofollow Links Have No SEO Value
This is probably the biggest myth.
While nofollow links don’t pass PageRank like dofollow links, that doesn’t make them useless. They can drive qualified referral traffic, increase brand awareness, expose your content to new audiences, and help create a more natural backlink profile.
Google Completely Ignores Nofollow Links
Google doesn’t treat every nofollow link the same way.
Since the 2019 update, Google has treated rel=”nofollow” as a hint rather than a strict rule. That means Google may still use these links to better understand content and discover pages when it finds them helpful.
Only Dofollow Links Matter
Dofollow backlinks are important, but they aren’t the only links worth earning.
Many trusted websites, including Reddit, Wikipedia, news publishers, and social media platforms, use nofollow links. Ignoring these opportunities simply because they don’t pass PageRank means missing out on valuable traffic and brand exposure.
A strong backlink strategy focuses on earning relevant, high-quality links instead of chasing one link type.
Nofollow Links Are Bad for SEO
Nofollow links don’t harm your SEO.
In fact, a website with a healthy mix of dofollow and nofollow backlinks often has a more natural-looking link profile. Problems usually come from low-quality or spammy links, not from the nofollow attribute itself.
Common Mistakes When Building Nofollow Links
Building nofollow links can support your overall SEO strategy, but only when you approach them the right way. I’ve seen many website owners either ignore them completely or use them in ways that provide little value. Avoiding these common mistakes will help you focus your time where it matters most.
Ignoring High-Quality Nofollow Links
Some people reject every nofollow link without considering where it comes from. That’s a missed opportunity.
A mention from a trusted news website, an active Reddit discussion, or a well-known industry blog can bring targeted visitors and increase your brand’s visibility, even if the link is marked as nofollow.
Chasing Only Dofollow Backlinks
A backlink profile made up entirely of dofollow links doesn’t always look natural.
The strongest websites usually earn a mix of dofollow and nofollow backlinks over time. Focusing only on one type of link means overlooking valuable opportunities that can drive traffic and build trust.
Building Low-Quality Forum Links
Not every forum is worth your time.
Posting links on low-quality or spam-filled forums simply to create backlinks rarely delivers meaningful results. Instead, contribute to communities where your knowledge genuinely helps people. If the link adds value to the discussion, it’s far more likely to benefit your website.
Focusing on Quantity Instead of Relevance
Getting hundreds of nofollow links from unrelated websites won’t strengthen your SEO strategy.
I’ve found that a few relevant mentions from trusted websites usually provide more long-term value than a large number of low-quality links. Always prioritise relevance over volume.
Expecting Instant Ranking Improvements
Nofollow links aren’t a shortcut to higher rankings.
Their value often comes from increased visibility, referral traffic, and a stronger online presence. If you’re building nofollow links, think about long-term growth instead of expecting immediate ranking changes.
Pro Tip
Before trying to earn any backlink, ask yourself one question: Would this link still be worth having if search engines didn’t exist? If the answer is yes because it can bring relevant visitors, build trust, or increase brand awareness, it’s probably a worthwhile opportunity.
Real Example
How Nofollow Links Created SEO Opportunities
A while ago, I worked on a website that earned several nofollow links through industry discussions, community forums, and a feature on a well-known online publication. At first, there was no noticeable change in keyword rankings, so it would have been easy to assume the links had little value. However, over the following weeks, referral traffic started increasing, more people became familiar with the brand, and some visitors shared the content on their own websites. That extra exposure eventually led to a few natural dofollow backlinks from relevant blogs that discovered the content through those nofollow mentions. The experience reinforced an important lesson for me: the real value of nofollow links isn’t always immediate rankings. They can create visibility, attract the right audience, and open the door to opportunities that support long-term SEO growth.
What I've Learned About Nofollow Links
After working with different websites and reviewing backlink profiles, one thing has become clear to me: many people spend too much time asking whether a link is dofollow or nofollow and not enough time asking whether it’s actually valuable. That’s probably the biggest misconception I see.
What matters most is where the link comes from and what it can achieve. A nofollow link from a trusted website that sends relevant visitors is often more valuable than a low-quality dofollow backlink that nobody clicks.
I’ve also noticed that successful websites don’t chase one type of backlink. They earn links naturally from blogs, news websites, communities, social platforms, and industry resources. Over time, that creates a healthy and diverse backlink profile instead of one that looks forced.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is simple: don’t judge a backlink by its attribute alone. Judge it by the value it brings to your website, your audience, and your long-term SEO strategy.
When Are Nofollow Links Worth Building?
Not every nofollow link deserves your attention, but many are absolutely worth earning. The key is to focus on the value the link can bring rather than the attribute attached to it. Before investing time in any link-building opportunity, think about what you’re trying to achieve.
If Your Goal Is Rankings
If your only goal is to increase rankings through PageRank, nofollow links shouldn’t be your primary focus. Dofollow backlinks remain more valuable for passing authority. However, a balanced SEO strategy shouldn’t ignore quality nofollow opportunities.
If Your Goal Is Traffic
Nofollow links can be an excellent choice when they’re placed on websites with an active and relevant audience. A single mention on a popular community, news website, or industry blog can send qualified visitors who are genuinely interested in your content or services.
If Your Goal Is Brand Awareness
If you want more people to discover your business, nofollow links are often worth pursuing. Mentions on trusted websites help increase your visibility, strengthen your reputation, and introduce your brand to audiences that may not find you through search engines alone.
If Your Goal Is Link Diversity
A natural backlink profile contains a combination of dofollow and nofollow links. Earning links from different sources shows that your website is gaining attention naturally instead of relying on a single link-building approach.
A Balanced Backlink Strategy
From my experience, the strongest websites don’t chase every dofollow backlink or ignore every nofollow link. They focus on earning relevant mentions from trustworthy websites while creating content that people genuinely want to reference. That’s what builds sustainable SEO growth over time.
Quick Decision Checklist
A nofollow link is usually worth pursuing if you can answer “Yes” to most of these questions:
- Is the website relevant to your niche?
- Can it send qualified referral traffic?
- Will it increase your brand's visibility?
- Does it come from a trusted source?
- Does it support a natural backlink profile?
- Would you still want the link even if it had no direct SEO value?
Quick Summary
If you’re still wondering whether nofollow links are worth your time, here’s what to remember:
- A nofollow link tells search engines not to treat the link as a traditional ranking signal.
- Google now treats rel=”nofollow” as a hint, not a strict directive.
- Nofollow links don’t directly pass PageRank, but they can provide valuable indirect SEO benefits.
- They can drive referral traffic, improve brand visibility, and help create a natural backlink profile.
- Dofollow and nofollow links both have a role in a healthy backlink strategy.
- High-quality nofollow links from trusted websites are often more valuable than low-quality dofollow backlinks.
- Focus on earning relevant, useful links instead of chasing link attributes alone.
The best backlink strategy isn’t about choosing between dofollow and nofollow links. It’s about earning links that provide real value to your website, your audience, and your long-term SEO growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nofollow Links
Is nofollow good for SEO?
Yes. Nofollow links support a healthy SEO strategy when they come from relevant and trustworthy websites. While they don’t directly improve rankings, they can increase traffic, strengthen your online presence, and contribute to a more natural backlink profile.
What is nofollow in SEO?
A nofollow link is a hyperlink that includes the rel=”nofollow” attribute. It tells search engines not to treat the link as a traditional ranking signal. Google now treats this attribute as a hint, which means it may still use the link for crawling or understanding content.
Do nofollow links count for SEO?
Yes, but not in the same way as dofollow links. Nofollow links don’t usually pass PageRank, but they can still support SEO by bringing referral traffic, increasing brand awareness, and helping build a diverse backlink profile.
Does Google ignore nofollow links?
No. Since Google’s 2019 update, rel=”nofollow” has been treated as a hint instead of a strict directive. Google may still use nofollow links to discover pages or better understand the relationships between websites.
Do nofollow links pass PageRank?
In general, nofollow links do not pass PageRank like dofollow links. However, they can still provide value through referral traffic, brand exposure, and other indirect SEO benefits that support long-term website growth.
Does Google crawl nofollow links?
Yes. Google can crawl nofollow links when it finds them useful. A nofollow attribute doesn’t prevent a page from being crawled or indexed if Google discovers it through other links, sitemaps, or additional signals.
Are Reddit links good for SEO?
Most Reddit links are nofollow, but they can still be valuable. A popular Reddit post can send highly targeted referral traffic, increase brand exposure, and help more people discover your content. Valuable discussions may also lead to additional backlinks from other websites.
Sources & References
This guide is based on Google’s official documentation and trusted SEO resources to ensure the information is accurate, up to date, and aligned with current best practices.
Google Search Central – Link attributes (rel=”nofollow”, rel=”ugc”, and rel=”sponsored”)
Google Search Central – Search Essentials
Google Search Central Blog – Evolving “nofollow” (2019 Update)
Search Engine Journal – Research and industry insights on nofollow links
Search Engine Land – SEO news, Google updates, and backlink best practices
Ready to Build a Smarter Backlink Strategy?
Building a strong backlink profile isn’t about collecting as many links as possible. It’s about earning links that add real value to your website, attract the right audience, and support long-term SEO growth. By understanding when nofollow links matter and balancing them with high-quality dofollow backlinks, you can create a more natural and sustainable link-building strategy.
If you’d like expert feedback on your backlink profile or want to identify opportunities to improve your website’s SEO performance, we’re here to help.
Wali Shah is the Founder and CEO of SkillsHeaven, a digital growth agency specializing in Local SEO, Google Ads, and conversion-focused website development. With over 8+ years of experience, he has helped scale 170+ businesses, including 93+ limousine companies globally, by building structured, lead-generating digital systems. His expertise spans local search optimization, paid media strategy, and high-performance website development, all aligned with measurable business growth. Known for a data-driven and ethical approach, Wali focuses on creating scalable marketing systems that increase visibility, generate qualified leads, and drive long-term revenue for service-based businesses.
