Do Follow Links vs. No Follow Links: Is It Important?

Individuals who are new to SEO may be curious about the excitement surrounding follow links versus no follow links. If you’re feeling lost, don’t fret! We’re here to provide clarity.

What Constitutes a Follow Link?

To truly grasp the distinction between follow and no follow links, it’s essential to understand how most links function in SEO. When a webpage receives an inbound link, essentially a hyperlink directing to that page, it experiences a minor SEO boost. Imagine a link as a point; the more links you have, the more points you accumulate. A higher point count equates to success, just like Charlie Sheen. Google keeps track of these points, observing the number of inbound links a page possesses and their origins. Google’s logic is straightforward: if numerous websites link to a specific page, it must be exceptional! Consequently, they prioritize that page in their search results over others on similar topics, ensuring search engine users find the most relevant content. Google developed a metric called PageRank to quantify these link points, often referred to as “link juice” by SEO professionals. Link juice flows between websites through hyperlinks. The more reputable the linking site, the greater the link juice boost the recipient receives. Obtaining a link from esteemed sources like the New York Times or BBC is invaluable! Therefore, a follow link is a link that contributes points, boosting SEO link juice and enhancing the linked-to site’s PageRank, ultimately improving its search engine ranking position.

What Characterizes a No Follow Link?

Conversely, a no follow link doesn’t contribute points, boost PageRank, or influence a page’s search engine ranking. It receives no preferential treatment and leads a solitary existence. A no follow link is implemented using the nofollow link HTML tag, which appears as follows: <a href=”http://www.website.com/” rel=”nofollow”>Link Text This nofollow tag serves as an instruction for search engines, essentially stating, “Disregard this link.” Such an action might seem harsh and unjust, raising questions about its purpose. However, the nofollow attribute exists for a good reason!

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A World Devoid of No Follow: A Recipe for Spamalot

As previously mentioned, Google utilizes the natural do follow form of links to determine PageRank. A higher link count translates to increased link juice, resulting in higher website page rankings. In its purest form, PageRank identifies and prioritizes the most popular and potentially highest-quality pages for searchers. However, our world is imperfect. As you may know, some self-proclaimed SEO “experts” employ unethical black-hat techniques to manipulate search engine rankings. Before the nofollow attribute, link-building was an easy target for artificial ranking manipulation.

Once SEO black-hats discovered PageRank, chaos ensued! Links became the holy grail of SEO. The pursuit of more inbound links for better PageRank led SEOs to employ spam tactics across the web. Blog comments became overrun with self-promotion and nonsensical linking.

Even Wikipedia fell victim as individuals attempted to insert their own website links as references on countless pages, all for the coveted link juice. The blogging community grew concerned as these spammers jeopardized genuine community building and authentic online discussions. In 2005, Google, assuming the role of internet police, intervened. Google’s Matt Cutts and Blogger’s Jason Shellen introduced the nofollow attribute.

NoFollow: An Essential Safeguard for the Internet

The need for the nofollow tag underscores the deceptive practices often linked with SEO. Nevertheless, its importance is undeniable.

This tag has significantly benefited the online world. Most SEO spammers avoid posting irrelevant links on blogs or forums knowing they won’t receive follow link benefits. Platforms like WordPress and Wikipedia automatically assign the no follow attribute to user-submitted links. While blog comment spam persists, the no follow attribute has undoubtedly mitigated its impact. As a webmaster, you might question when to use the no follow attribute versus allowing do follow links. No follow links are primarily appropriate for:

Paid links (buying link juice is unethical)
Comments
Forums
Content deemed “untrusted” by Google Some webmasters may choose to disable the nofollow attribute as a reward for valuable contributions to blog discussions or online communities. However, this decision remains at their discretion.

Should No Follow Links Be Completely Ignored?

Not at all! Although no follow links lack SEO link value, they are not without merit. They still contribute valuable referral traffic. A strategically placed blog comment or relevant forum post, regardless of its no follow status, can generate substantial traffic to your website, potentially leading to leads and conversions! Moreover, modern search engines consider various factors beyond link juice and PageRank. Social signals from platforms like Twitter and Facebook, despite being no follow, hold increasing value. Focus on building your brand and consider the overall benefit of links, not just their SEO impact. Strive to establish yourself as an industry authority through valuable links. Remember, links foster trust, regardless of their type. Pursuing Wikipedia links, when appropriate, remains worthwhile. Wikipedia maintains strict referencing standards, demanding niche and unique content. However, securing a Wikipedia link can yield significant benefits, including attracting other do follow links.

Gianluca Fiorelli from IloveSEO notes that highlights an instance during his competitive research on Patagonia travel websites. He observed that the top-ranking website had a Wikipedia link. He elaborates: “Upon investigating, I discovered the link pointed to a blog post about Welsh immigration in Patagonia. While the link itself might not drive substantial traffic, it caught the attention of someone at the BBC, who subsequently linked to the same post, citing Wikipedia as their source. As a result, the travel website gained a valuable backlink from a trusted authority like the BBC, in addition to its Wikipedia link." Despite being nofollow, Wikipedia links can still generate traffic and potentially attract valuable do follow links in the future.

Distinguishing Between Follow and No Follow Links

How can one differentiate between follow and no follow links? In Chrome, navigate to the navigation bar and select View > Developer > View Source. Alternatively, right-click on a page and choose Inspect Element. In Firefox, right-click and select View Page Source. Then, use the Edit > Find function and search for “nofollow.” All instances of the nofollow tag will be highlighted.

For SEO professionals seeking efficient tracking of no follow links, numerous extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox that automatically highlight these links on visited pages. Some Firefox extensions include:

Acquiring Follow Links

We’ve established the importance of links, regardless of their no follow or do follow status. However, acquiring some follow links to balance your link profile is beneficial. The most effective approach is genuine: create exceptional, original content that naturally attracts shares and links. Other methods include guest blogging, particularly on websites relevant to your niche, to gain both referral traffic and an SEO boost.

Follow or No Follow: A Balanced Approach is Key

Ultimately, a healthy link profile consists of both do follow and no follow backlinks. While do follow links might hold greater SEO weight, both types deserve a place in your online marketing strategy.