What is a nofollow link?
Definition
A nofollow link is a link marked with rel="nofollow", which tells search engines you don't vouch for the linked page. Google treats it as a hint, not a strict rule.
Why it matters
Link attributes tell search engines how much to trust the links on your site, which protects you when linking to pages you don't endorse.
How to do it
- Use rel="sponsored" for paid, ad or affiliate links.
- Use rel="ugc" for links in user-generated content, like comments.
- Use rel="nofollow" for other links you don't want to vouch for.
Example
A blog post links to a partner's discount page with rel="sponsored" and to a forum comment's link with rel="ugc".
FAQ
When did nofollow become a hint?
Google announced it in September 2019, and from March 2020 it also became a hint for crawling and indexing.