the impact of nofollow backlinks on modern seo strategies
What Are Nofollow Backlinks and Why They Matter
Nofollow backlinks are links with a rel="nofollow" attribute, signaling to search engines not to pass PageRank or influence the target page’s ranking. Basically, it tells Google hey look but don’t count this one.
Back when I started SEO work, nofollow links were treated like the unwanted vegetables on your dinner plate. Everyone avoided them. But things have changed in a big way since then.
How Nofollow Links Fit into the Bigger SEO Picture
Today, nofollow backlinks play a far more important role than many marketers realize. They can still drive traffic, build brand awareness, and even indirectly influence SEO through engagement signals and diversification.
1. Traffic Generation
A well placed nofollow link on a high traffic site can drive tons of referral visitors even if it doesn’t pass SEO juice directly.
One of my blog posts got linked on a major forum with a nofollow tag and guess what that post ended up being one of my top traffic drivers for months.
2. Brand Visibility
Being mentioned and linked to, even with a nofollow attribute, boosts your brand's authority in the eyes of both users and algorithms that now use hints from nofollowed links.
3. Natural Link Profile
A backlink profile that’s 100% dofollow screams manipulation. Natural websites have a mix. Having nofollow links actually protects you from triggering Google penalties.
Why Google Changed Its Stance on Nofollow Links
In 2019, Google announced that nofollow would be treated as a hint rather than a strict directive. That means Google may choose to pass value through a nofollow link if it believes the link is editorially given and valuable.
This was a huge shift. Suddenly, nofollow wasn’t just a dead end anymore. It became a maybe yes under the right circumstances.
Different Types of Nofollow Links and Their Sources
Understanding where nofollow links come from helps you plan smarter strategies.
- Social Media Links: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn all use nofollow attributes
- Forum Posts and Comments: Most reputable forums mark user generated links as nofollow
- News Sites and High Authority Blogs: Some media outlets add nofollow by default to preserve neutrality
Case Study How Nofollow Links Boosted My Authority Site
When building one of my authority sites, I focused heavily on earning mentions in major publications. Even though the links were nofollow, my brand recognition exploded and organic backlinks started coming naturally.
Within nine months, the site ranked on page one for competitive keywords without a single traditional dofollow link campaign.
Common Myths About Nofollow Backlinks
There’s a lot of outdated advice floating around. Let’s set the record straight.
- Myth: Nofollow links have zero SEO value
- Truth: They can still indirectly influence rankings through traffic and engagement
- Myth: You should only pursue dofollow links
- Truth: A healthy link profile includes both types
How to Leverage Nofollow Links in Your SEO Strategy
Instead of ignoring nofollow links, smart SEOs embrace them strategically.
1. Target High Traffic Platforms
Focus on getting nofollow links from sites that can send real human traffic. Think major forums, social media, and popular blogs in your niche.
2. Build Relationships First
Nofollow links often come from editorial mentions. Build relationships with journalists, bloggers, and influencers to earn those valuable references naturally.
3. Diversify Anchor Text and Link Sources
Whether it’s nofollow or dofollow, use varied and natural anchor text to avoid patterns that could hurt your SEO.
Final Thoughts Nofollow Backlinks Are No Longer Useless
In the early days, ignoring nofollow links made sense. But today they’re a crucial part of building a strong, diverse, and resilient SEO strategy.
Focus on the bigger picture. High quality content, strong brand presence, and strategic use of all types of backlinks will carry you much further than obsessing over link attributes.
If you treat nofollow links as opportunities instead of obstacles, you’ll be ahead of most of your competition without even breaking a sweat.
