Internal Nofollow Links: Good Or Bad Idea?

You’ve probably heard that nofollow links, which tell search engines not to pass on any link equity, are essential for controlling spammy or irrelevant links. But what about using nofollow for internal links within your own site?

The concept of internal nofollow links sparks a lot of debate among SEO experts. Some argue it’s a useful tool for directing link juice precisely where you need it. Others believe it can harm your site’s overall SEO health by disrupting the natural flow of authority.

So, what’s the real deal? Are internal nofollow links a clever strategy, or just a shortcut to bigger problems?

Stick around as we explore the pros, cons, and best practices for using nofollow links internally. This guide will arm you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and optimize your site effectively.

What Are Nofollow Links?

Nofollow links are a specific type of hyperlink that includes a simple but important piece of code: the rel=”nofollow” attribute. When you add this attribute to a link, you’re telling search engines not to pass any PageRank or SEO value through that link.

Initially introduced by Google to combat comment spam, nofollow links ensure that the linked page doesn’t get any “link juice” from your site. Essentially, they serve as a directive for search engines to ignore that link when indexing and ranking pages.

Nofollow links are often used for external links pointing to non-trusted or irrelevant sites. However, they can also be employed internally to control the distribution of SEO value across your own website.

Understanding how and when to use nofollow links is crucial for effective SEO management. Whether you’re working on an external link strategy or considering their role within your site, the nofollow attribute can be a powerful tool if used correctly.

Should You Nofollow Internal Links?

Deciding whether to nofollow internal links comes down to understanding your site’s specific needs and SEO goals. In general, most websites don’t need to use internal nofollow links extensively, but there are some scenarios where they might make sense.

One common situation is when you have pages that you don’t want search engines to prioritize. For instance, privacy policies or login pages are often nofollowed internally because they don’t offer valuable content for search engines to index.

Another reason might be to control how link juice flows across your site. If you feel that certain pages are siphoning off too much link equity without contributing significant SEO value, adding a nofollow to internal links pointing to those pages can help redirect the authority to more deserving content.

However, use this tactic with caution. Overusing nofollow internally could disrupt the natural hierarchy of your site and confuse both users and search engines about what content is important. Always assess the overall structure and user experience before making these adjustments.

Ultimately, the key is balance. A well-thought-out internal linking strategy can significantly boost your site’s SEO performance, but overcomplicating it with too many nofollow tags can lead to unintended consequences.

Why Do Some Websites Use Nofollow Internal Links?

Websites incorporate nofollow internal links for several strategic reasons. One primary motive is to manage the distribution of link equity effectively. By nofollowing links to less crucial pages, websites aim to concentrate SEO value on pages that matter most, like key landing pages and high-value content.

Another reason is to prevent certain pages from being indexed by search engines. For instance, admin pages, privacy policies, and terms of service pages often contain minimal SEO value. Using nofollow tags on these internal links ensures search engines focus on content that’s more beneficial to users.

Additionally, websites might employ nofollow links to avoid potential duplicate content issues. Pages with similar content, like print-friendly versions or paginated articles, can be nofollowed to ensure that search engines don’t waste crawl budget on redundant content.

How To Nofollow Internal Links In WordPress

If you’ve decided that nofollowing certain internal links is right for your WordPress site, the process is straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:

First, log into your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the post or page where you want to add a nofollow link.

In the WordPress editor, highlight the text you want to turn into a link and click the link icon. After entering the URL, click the gear icon for link options.

Once the link options dialog opens, you’ll see a checkbox to “Add rel=’nofollow’ to link.” Check this box to automatically add the nofollow attribute. Save your changes, and you’re done!

For those who prefer more control, you can manually add the nofollow attribute. Switch to the HTML view of your post. Find the anchor tag for your link and add rel=”nofollow” within it.

If you’re handling multiple nofollow links, consider using a plugin like “Title and Nofollow For Links.” This plugin makes it easy to manage link attributes without diving into HTML.

By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to manage your internal nofollow links effectively, ensuring your SEO strategy stays on point.

Automate Your Internal Linking With Linkmatic

Let’s face it, managing internal links can be a time-consuming task. Constantly assessing which pages should link to which, ensuring you’re not overlinking, and making sure the right content gets the most link juice—it’s a lot to juggle.

Enter Linkmatic.

Our tool leverages advanced AI to take the heavy lifting out of internal linking. Linkmatic scans your content, understands context, and automatically inserts the most relevant internal links. This ensures that your key pages get the attention they deserve without you having to lift a finger.

Imagine the time you’ll save. Instead of manually updating links in each new blog post, our AI does it for you—instantly and accurately. This frees you up to focus on creating quality content and refining your overall SEO strategy.

With Linkmatic, not only do you improve your site’s SEO efficiently, but you also maintain a natural link structure that benefits both users and search engines. Say goodbye to the tedious task of internal linking and let our AI-driven solution take your website to the next level.

Ready to streamline your internal linking process? Check out Linkmatic today and see how effortless optimizing your website can be.