Glossaries
No Follow
What is a No Follow Link in SEO and Growth Hacking?
A No Follow link is an HTML attribute added to a hyperlink that tells search engines not to pass link equity or authority to the linked website. It's a way for website owners to link to other sites without endorsing them or affecting their search engine rankings.
Synonyms: nofollow attribute, nofollow tag, no-follow link, nofollow backlink
Why No Follow Links are Important in SEO
No Follow links play a crucial role in SEO and growth hacking strategies. They allow website owners to link to external content without passing on link juice, which is valuable for maintaining a site's SEO integrity. This is particularly important when linking to user-generated content, paid advertisements, or untrusted sources.
How No Follow Links are Used in Growth Hacking
Growth hackers use No Follow links strategically to:
- Comply with search engine guidelines when posting sponsored content
- Manage the flow of link equity within a website
- Protect a site's authority when linking to potentially spammy or low-quality content
- Implement effective affiliate marketing strategies without risking search engine penalties
Examples of No Follow Links in Action
- Blog comments: Most comment systems automatically add the No Follow attribute to prevent comment spam.
- Sponsored posts: When influencers or bloggers publish sponsored content, they use No Follow links to disclose paid relationships.
- Wikipedia: All external links on Wikipedia are No Follow to maintain the integrity of their vast information network.
- Social media platforms: Many social networks use No Follow links to prevent manipulation of search rankings through mass link sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions about No Follow Links
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Question 1: How do I add a No Follow attribute to a link?
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Answer 1: Add rel="nofollow" to the HTML link tag, like this: <a href="http://example.com" rel="nofollow">Link text</a>
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Question 2: Do No Follow links provide any SEO benefit?
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Answer 2: While they don't directly pass link equity, No Follow links can still drive traffic and indirectly benefit SEO through increased brand exposure and potential natural backlinks.
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Question 3: Should all external links be No Follow?
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Answer 3: No, use No Follow selectively. It's beneficial to have a mix of Follow and No Follow links for a natural link profile.
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Question 4: Can No Follow links hurt my website's SEO?
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Answer 4: No, using No Follow links correctly won't hurt your SEO. They're a tool to help manage your site's link equity and comply with search engine guidelines.