Okay, let’s get this out of the way — nofollow links are like that one friend who “doesn’t interfere” but somehow still changes the whole vibe of the group.
People in the SEO world keep arguing about whether they matter. Half of Twitter (sorry, X) says, “Nofollow links are useless,” and the other half is out here swearing they’re secret ranking juice. I’ve tested both sides, and honestly… it’s complicated.
Do nofollow links help seo, What even is a nofollow link?
In plain English, a nofollow link is like a hyperlink with a polite disclaimer:
“Hey Google, don’t count this one for ranking.”
It’s done with this little tag — rel="nofollow".
Websites use it to tell search engines not to pass PageRank or authority to another site.
Google introduced it way back in 2005 because people were spamming blog comments and forums with garbage backlinks. (If you were on Blogspot in those days, you know the chaos.)
But here’s the twist
Google now says it might treat nofollow links as “hints” instead of strict rules. Basically, it’s like saying, “We won’t always ignore it… we’ll think about it.”
So yeah, Google might still crawl and index those links. Sometimes they even use them to discover new pages.
Kinda like your teacher saying they might grade your extra credit assignment — you still turn it in, right?
Real-life example
I once got a backlink from a Reddit thread — obviously nofollow. Didn’t expect anything from it. But the traffic spike was insane.
People clicked, spent time on my site, and guess what? That engagement probably helped my SEO indirectly.
So while Google didn’t pass PageRank, humans sure did. And that’s the point most people miss — SEO isn’t just algorithms; it’s attention.
Why nofollow links still matter (even if Google says “nah”)
1. Referral traffic still counts
A nofollow link from a busy site like Forbes, Reddit, or Quora can send thousands of visitors. And visitors lead to shares, leads, and sometimes even dofollow links later.
2. Brand signals
When your brand name keeps showing up (even in nofollow links), Google starts associating it with authority. It’s a bit like seeing Coca-Cola everywhere — you start trusting it without realizing why.
3. Natural backlink profile
If all your links are dofollow, that looks fake as hell.
A mix of both makes your backlink profile look organic — something Google loves.
4. Social proof
Getting mentioned on big sites (even with nofollow) builds trust. Users don’t care about “rel” tags; they care about credibility.
The shady myth about “nofollow is useless”
You’ll see some “SEO gurus” yelling on YouTube, “Nofollow links don’t matter, don’t waste time!”
But here’s the irony — those same gurus are out there begging for links from Wikipedia, YouTube, and Reddit. Guess what? All nofollow.
So either they’re lying… or they know those links still do something.
Some lesser-known facts
Wikipedia links are 100% nofollow, yet SEOs fight for them like gold.
Google News sites mostly use nofollow too, but still rank like crazy.
Ahrefs once analyzed millions of links and found nofollow links appear way more often in the backlink profiles of top-ranking sites than low-ranking ones.
So yeah. Coincidence? Maybe. But I don’t buy it.
Quick analogy
Think of SEO like dating.
Dofollow links are your official compliments — “You look great today.”
Nofollow links are those subtle side glances and whispers that still make people notice you.
Neither alone gets you the date, but together? Magic.
FAQs about Nofollow Links
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Do nofollow links pass any SEO value? | Not directly, but they can help with traffic, visibility, and brand recognition, which indirectly helps SEO. |
| 2. Should I build nofollow links intentionally? | Yeah, as long as they come from relevant, trusted sources. Balance is key. |
| 3. Are social media links nofollow? | Yup. Almost all of them. But they still help your brand and engagement metrics. |
| 4. Can nofollow links improve rankings over time? | Indirectly, yes. If they drive traffic, mentions, and engagement, Google takes notice. |
| 5. What’s the ideal ratio of dofollow to nofollow? | There’s no magic number. A natural mix (60/40, 70/30, whatever) is better than looking suspiciously perfect. |
Look, SEO isn’t black or white — it’s fifty shades of “it depends.”
Nofollow links might not give you raw ranking juice, but they build reputation, awareness, and trust — and last time I checked, those still count for something.
So yeah, next time someone says “nofollow links don’t help,” just smile and keep building them anyway. Because while they’re busy counting dofollows, you’ll be counting conversions.
Thinking of Getting Nofollow Links the Right Way?
Alright, so now that you actually know how nofollow links do help SEO (even if Google pretends they don’t), you might be wondering — where the heck do you get good ones?
Because, let’s be real — dropping links in random blog comments or sketchy forums isn’t gonna do much except make you look spammy.
That’s exactly why we built our Nofollow Link Building Plans — real sites, real traffic, and zero shady stuff.
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| Plan | Silver | Gold | Diamond |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Domain Authority (DA) | 20+ | 30+ | 40+ |
| Traffic Source | Blogs & Forums | Blogs, Forums & News Sites | Premium News, Blogs & Social Mentions |
| Link Type | 100% Nofollow (Manual Outreach) | 100% Nofollow (High Engagement) | 100% Nofollow (High Traffic + Brand Mentions) |
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| Reporting | Basic Excel Report | Detailed Excel Report | Full Report + Site Metrics |
| Support | Priority Email | 1-on-1 Chat Support | |
| Best For | Small Businesses | Growing Brands | Agencies & Long-Term SEO Growth |
💡 All our backlinks are built manually, contextually placed, and 100% relevant to your niche. No spammy sites, no fake traffic, no shortcuts — just clean, natural nofollow signals that support your brand and SEO growth.
Ready to Balance Your Backlink Profile?
If your backlink strategy is all dofollow, it’s like eating only protein and skipping carbs — sure, it works for a bit, but your SEO won’t stay healthy for long.
Choose a plan that fits your goals, and let’s start building a stronger, more natural backlink mix that actually helps your rankings and your reputation.
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