Some people cringe when they hear “nofollow” tag in SEO. The reason for this is that SEOs detest nofollow links. But it must not always be the case. In 2005, search engines created a nofollow attribute to fight link spam. Then, Google recommended that website owners must use it for paid link ads. It was their way of telling the Internet search giant that they’re being paid for the links. This approach helps Google in differentiating between paid and natural inks. This raises one question: can a no-follow tag help boost your search ranking?
Nofollow links are ideal
The most popular pages on Google have up to 40 percent nofollow links. Google expect reliable websites to have a natural backlink profile. In that case, a nofollow link carries an SEO value. For that reason, it should be part of your SEO strategy.
A nofollow link has real SEO value. However, it must have relevance to your site. Many popular sites place nofollow on their outbound links. It’s true that a link from them will have no value in PageRank, it still offers high value because of the size of their user base. A nofollow link provides potential visitors an opportunity to visit your site. It also expands their awareness. In fact, a mention on your site without a link can still be valuable to increase awareness about your website or brand.
But how should you implement nofollow link on your website?
One of the good guidelines you must follow is to use nofollow link in forums or comments. Keep in mind that user-generated content can be a source of spam. Even if you moderate it, things can still slip through. Then, if you have sponsored content, you must always use nofollow link. In press releases, it’s best to use nofollow links. That’s because the press release is being abused. Furthermore, press release sites are using nofollow links.
However, if you accept guest posting, you may consider a follow link in the bylines of authors. But you must only do so if your guest writer is a person you trust. Then again, it’s best only to allow guest authors to include one link in their byline. You may also use a do-follow to your interviewees. But use the anchor text of their name to be safe. If you’re not sure how nofollow and do-follow links can help improve your search rankings, please consult with Danny Star of Websites Depot. You may contact him through: (323) 922-5959