Do I “follow” or “nofollow” My HTML Links?
“Follow” and “nofollow” HTML link attributes are used to instruct search engines how to handle the links on a web page. An understanding of each is crucial to properly implementing the search engine optimization of a website.
It is recommended to use “follow” links for internal or external links that you want to endorse or pass value to, such as links to trustworthy and relevant content.
“Nofollow” links should be used for links that you do not endorse or want to pass value to, such as links to untrusted or low-quality content, sponsored or paid links, and links that do not contribute to the user experience.
In general, the “follow” and “nofollow” attributes should be used based on a website’s linking strategy and the nature of the linked content. The main goal is to ensure that search engines can accurately interpret the relationships between the pages and provide relevant and trustworthy results to users.
The “follow” HTML Link Attribute
The “follow” HTML attribute, also known as the “rel=follow” attribute, is used in hyperlinks to indicate to search engines that they should follow the link and take note of its content.
When a search engine crawls a page with a “follow” link, it follows the link to the linked page, taking note of the content and context of both pages. The linked page is added to the search engine’s index and its content can be used to rank the page in search results. Additionally, the “follow” link can pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the linking page to the linked page, which can help to improve the linked page’s search engine ranking.
It’s important to note that not all links are “follow” links. Some links, such as those marked with the “nofollow” attribute, are not followed by search engines and do not pass link equity.
In summary, the “follow” attribute is used to indicate to search engines that they should follow the link and take note of its content, allowing the linked page to be included in the search engine’s index and potentially improving its ranking through link equity.
The “nofollow” HTML Link Attribute
The “nofollow” HTML link attribute is used to instruct search engines to not follow a specific hyperlink. The purpose of this attribute is to prevent the search engines from passing any value from the linking page to the linked page, thus preventing search engines from associating the linked page with the linking page.
In other words, if you add a “nofollow” attribute to a link, it will not be considered as a “vote of confidence” for the linked page by the search engine, and it will not affect the linked page’s ranking in the search engine results. This can be useful in situations where you do not want to endorse a page or are linking to a page that you are unsure of the quality or authenticity.
It should be noted that while “nofollow” is recognized by most major search engines, it is not a guarantee that the link will not be followed. The use of the “nofollow” attribute is intended as a suggestion to search engines, and they are free to ignore it if they wish.
Choose Wisely
In conclusion, the use of “follow” and “nofollow” HTML link attributes is an important aspect of search engine optimization and helps search engines better understand the relationships between pages on a website. The choice between “follow” and “nofollow” should be based on a website’s linking strategy and the nature of the linked content, with the main goal being to provide relevant and trustworthy results to users. By using these attributes appropriately, websites can improve their visibility and ranking in search engine results, and provide a better user experience.
