What is a Nofollow link?

A nofollow link is a hyperlink that is seen by search engines but is not included as a recommendation for SEO. This is because there is an attribute rel="nofollow” added to the link. As a result, the link is not used to transmit authority or PageRank.

Nofollow links were created to prevent spam and to make it clear that a website takes no responsibility for the content of the linked page.

How does a nofollow link work?

When a search engine bot encounters a nofollow link, it does not actively follow the link to transmit value. The link can still generate traffic and is sometimes even indexed, but it doesn't count as a vote of trust in the algorithm.

HTML example:

<a href="https://voorbeeld.nl" rel="nofollow">example link</a>


The difference between nofollow and dofollow

The distinction is simple:

• Dofollow links (default): pass on authority, strengthen SEO.
• Nofollow links: do not pass on authority, but can generate visitors.

Since 2019, Google has also sometimes used nofollow as hint. This means that in some cases, a nofollow link can still contribute to crawling or indexing, but the value is limited compared to a dofollow link.

When do you use nofollow links?

Nofollow links are often used to indicate that a link is not a recommendation. For example, with:

• Paid links and advertorials.
• Comments or forums where users post links.
• Affiliate links or sponsored content.
• Uncertain sources that you don't want to link your own reputation to.

Why are nofollow links still valuable?

Although they don't provide a direct SEO value, nofollow links can be useful:

• They bring visitors to your website.
• They provide brand awareness and visibility.
• They make your link profile more natural (a profile with only dofollow links looks suspicious).
• In some cases, they can still stimulate crawling and indexing.

Examples of nofollow links

• A link to your website from the comments below an article.
• Affiliate links in a blog post.
• Links on social media (e.g. in bios or posts).
• Paid listings in online magazines.

Common mistakes with nofollow links

Entrepreneurs often make the mistake of completely ignoring nofollow links. But a healthy link profile needs a mix of both types of links. Other errors include:

• Post paid links without a nofollow attribute (risk of Google punishment).
• Too much reliance on traffic from nofollow links without your own SEO strategy.
• The idea that nofollow links have no value at all — they still contribute to visibility and branding.

My advice as an SEO specialist

Nofollow links are not a threat to your SEO, but a natural part of your link profile. See them as supportive: they help with traffic, visibility, and diversity. The dofollow links are especially crucial for your rankings, but without nofollow links, your profile looks unnatural. So it's about balance.

Conclusion

A nofollow link does not provide direct SEO value, but it does play a role in a natural and healthy link profile. They are important for traffic, brand awareness and diversity. By using nofollow links smartly and combining them with strong dofollow links, you are building a profile that Google trusts and that provides sustainable results.