Nofollow links are those that don’t pass along link juice, or ranking power, to the linked-to site. In other words, they don’t help that site’s SEO. Though they’re not as valuable as follow links, nofollow links can still be a helpful part of your link building strategy.
Here’s what you need to know about nofollow links and how they can benefit your website.
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What are Nofollow Links?
Nofollow links are created with the nofollow HTML tag. This tag tells search engines not to follow the link, which means they won’t pass along any link juice. In 2005, Google announced that it would start honoring the nofollow tag. Since then, other search engines, like Bing and Yahoo, have followed suit. A nofollow tag was introduced as a means to combat comment spam.
The nofollow tag looks like this:
<a href="http://example.com"rel="nofollow">Example</a>Nofollow links are commonly used in blog comments, forums, and sponsored posts. That’s because website owners don’t want to give away link juice to people who are just trying to get their site ranked higher.
However, that doesn’t mean that all nofollow links are bad. In fact, they can still be valuable in several ways.
Why Nofollow Links Can Still Be Beneficial
1. They’re Better Than No Links at All
First of all, it’s important to remember that a nofollow link is better than no link at all. That’s because any link that sends traffic to your site can help you in some way.
Even if a nofollow link doesn’t improve your SEO, it can still bring new visitors to your site. And those visitors could become customers or subscribers. So, don’t discount the value of nofollow links just because they don’t have SEO benefits.
2. They Can Help You Rank for Branded Keywords
Another reason why nofollow links can be beneficial is that they can help you rank for branded keywords.
For example, let’s say you own a website called Example Company. People who search for “Example Company” are probably already familiar with your brand. They may be looking for your website so they can buy something from you.
If you have a nofollow link from another website that mentions “Example Company,” that link could still help you rank higher for that keyword. That’s because the link signals to Google that your brand is being talked about online. And as a result, you’re more likely to show up in search results for that keyword.
3. They May Help You Rank for Other Keywords
Nofollow links can also sometimes help you rank for other keywords. For example, if a website links to you with the anchor text “SEO tips,” that could help you rank higher for that keyword.
Of course, this doesn’t always happen. And it’s difficult to know for sure whether or not a nofollow link will help you rank for a certain keyword. However, it’s still worth considering as part of your link building strategy.
4. They Can Improve Your Click-Through Rate
Finally, nofollow links can improve your click-through rate (CTR). That’s because they often look more natural than follow links.
If all of the links pointing to your website are follow links, that may look suspicious to Google. On the other hand, if you have a mix of follow and nofollow links, that looks more natural. As a result, your website may be more likely to show up in search results.
And when people do see your website in the search results, they’re more likely to click on it if you have a mix of follow and nofollow links. That’s because it looks like your website has been recommended by other websites, even if those recommendations aren’t passing along link juice.
How to Get Nofollow Links
Now that you know why nofollow links can be beneficial, you may be wondering how you can get them. Here are a few ideas:
1. Leave Comments on Blogs
One of the easiest ways to get nofollow links is to leave comments on blogs. Most blog comment sections use the nofollow tag by default. So, when you leave a comment with a link back to your website, you’ll usually get a nofollow link.
Of course, you don’t want to just leave any old comment. You should take the time to write something that adds to the conversation. That way, you’re more likely to get your comment approved, and you’ll also increase the chances that people will click on your link.
2. Participate in Forums
Another great way to get nofollow links is to participate in online forums related to your industry. Many forums use the nofollow tag, so you can usually include links back to your website without issue.
When you’re choosing which forums to participate in, look for ones that allow you to include a signature with your posts. That way, every time you leave a comment, your website link will be included.
3. Submit Guest Posts
Guest posting is another great way to get nofollow links. When you submit a guest post to another website, you can usually include one or two links back to your own site. And in most cases, those links will be nofollow.
Of course, you don’t want to just submit any old guest post. You should take the time to write something that’s high-quality and relevant to the website you’re submitting it to. That way, you’re more likely to get your post accepted, and people are more likely to click on your link.
4. Give Interviews
Giving interviews is another great way to get nofollow links. For example, if you’re interviewed by a website or blog, they may link back to your website in the interview. And in most cases, those links will be nofollow.
Of course, you don’t want to just give any old interview. You should make sure that the website or blog you’re being interviewed by is relevant to your industry. That way, people who read the interview are more likely to be interested in your business.
5. Include Links in Press Releases
If you issue press releases, you can usually include links back to your website. And in most cases, those links will be nofollow.
Of course, you don’t want to just issue any old press release. You should make sure that your press release is newsworthy and relevant to your industry. That way, people who read it are more likely to be interested in your business.
Conclusion
Nofollow links may not pass along link juice, but they can still be beneficial to your website. That’s because they can help you build relationships, improve your CTR, and more. So, if you’re not already including nofollow links as part of your link building strategy, you should start doing so today.
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