What Is a Nofollow Backlink? A Clear Guide With Examples and SEO Tips

Backlinks help pages climb search results. They act like votes from other sites. But not every link carries the same weight. A nofollow backlink is different. It tells search engines not to pass authority to the page it points to. In plain terms, it is a link that does not boost rankings the way a regular link can. That does not mean it is useless. Nofollow links can still bring clicks, trust, and brand visibility.

This guide breaks down what nofollow links are, how to spot them, what is an example of a nofollow backlink, how to tell if a link is nofollow, their role in SEO, and smart ways to use them. Expect clear steps, real examples, and practical advice you can apply today.

What Is a Nofollow Backlink and How Can You Spot One?

A nofollow backlink uses the rel="nofollow" attribute in the HTML of a link. This attribute tells search engines like Google not to count that link for ranking. A dofollow link, by contrast, passes authority or PageRank.

What is an example of a nofollow backlink? You often see it in:

• Forum comments
• Sponsored posts or ads
• User-generated content, like blog comments or profile bios
• Some social media and community platforms

How to tell if a link is nofollow:

• Right-click the link
• Click Inspect or Inspect Element
• Find the tag in the code
• Look for rel="nofollow"
• If it is there, the link is nofollow. If not, it is likely dofollow

You can also use browser extensions or SEO tools. Free or freemium tools like MozBar, Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, or the NoFollow Simple Chrome extension highlight link types on the page.

Why do some backlinks have no follow?

• To control link equity and avoid passing authority where it is not needed
• To reduce spam in comments and forums
• To mark paid or sponsored links, which should not pass ranking power

Search engines introduced nofollow to fight spam and paid link schemes. Today, Google may treat nofollow as a hint in some cases, but the safe assumption is that it does not pass authority.

Real-World Example of a Nofollow Backlink

Here is a simple HTML snippet that shows a nofollow link:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Click here</a>

You will spot these in user-generated content, social media shares, coupon sites, widget credits, and affiliate links. They can still send visitors and sales, even if they do not move rankings.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Link Type

• Right-click the link and select Inspect or Inspect Element
• Find the tag in the code
• Look for rel="nofollow"
• If you see it, the link is nofollow. If you do not, it is typically dofollow
• Optional: install a helper like NoFollow Simple for Chrome to highlight nofollow links automatically

Are Nofollow Backlinks Good for SEO and When Should You Use Them?

Are nofollow backlinks bad? No. They do not harm SEO. They simply do not pass authority like dofollow links. They can still drive visitors, build trust, and make your backlink profile look natural.

Are nofollow links good for SEO? Yes, in moderation. Google values natural link profiles. A site with only dofollow links can look suspicious. A healthy mix suggests real, organic activity.

Why would you use a nofollow link?

• Sponsored content and ads: mark paid links as nofollow, or use rel="sponsored"
• Affiliate links: keep them nofollow to follow best practices
• User-generated content: apply nofollow or rel="ugc" to fight spam in comments and forums
• Low-trust or low-quality pages: nofollow can reduce risk if you are unsure about the page

Which links should be nofollow?

• Paid ads and sponsorships
• Affiliate and tracking links
• Comment sections, forums, and user profiles
• Widgets, press release links, or places prone to spam

Can I rank without backlinks? Yes, for low competition queries or local terms, strong content and on-page SEO can rank. Backlinks still help you scale to harder keywords and broader topics.

How this plays out in practice:

• A blog with an active forum uses nofollow on user posts to prevent spam from passing authority
• An ecommerce site nofollows affiliate links and coupon placements
• A publisher marks all sponsored posts with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" to stay compliant

Key benefits of nofollow links:

• They diversify your backlink profile
• They reduce the risk of penalties for unnatural linking
• They can send referral traffic, sales, and brand signals

Keep your focus on user value. A nofollow link on a busy forum can bring hundreds of qualified clicks. That is worth having, even without ranking juice.

Pros and Cons of Nofollow Links in Your Strategy

• Pros: Adds variety to backlinks, drives direct traffic, safe for partnerships and sponsorships
• Cons: No direct ranking boost, might dilute a pure dofollow focus

Balance matters. A practical benchmark many marketers use is 20 to 30 percent nofollow in a backlink profile. It is not a rule, but it helps keep things natural.

How to Use Nofollow Links Effectively and Manage Your Backlink Profile

How to use nofollow on your site:

• Add rel="nofollow" to links you do not want to pass authority
• In WordPress, many SEO plugins let you toggle nofollow for individual links
• For comments or forums, consider rel="ugc" for user-generated content

How many backlinks are good for SEO? Quality beats quantity. A practical target for growing sites is 10 to 20 high-quality links per month. Focus on relevant sites, real coverage, and content that earns citations. Fast spikes from low-quality sources can do more harm than good.

How to remove nofollow backlinks:

• You usually do not need to remove a nofollow link, since it already does not pass authority
• If the link is spammy or harmful to your brand, ask the site owner to remove it
• Use the disavow tool in Google Search Console to ask Google to ignore toxic links you cannot remove

Smart tips for a durable link profile:

• Audit links monthly or quarterly with tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush
• Prioritize dofollow links from reputable, relevant sites
• Keep a natural mix with some nofollow links from real mentions and communities
• Avoid link schemes or bulk purchases
• Build content that attracts citations on its own, like research, tools, and guides

Over-relying on nofollow links will cap your ranking growth. Use them where they make sense, and pursue dofollow links from trusted sources as your main driver.

Tools and Tips for Building and Auditing Backlinks

• Free tools: Google Search Console for monitoring links and using the disavow file when needed
• Browser helpers: NoFollow Simple, Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, or MozBar to highlight link types
• Tips: prioritize dofollow from reputable sites, use nofollow for diversity, keep anchors natural, and track referral traffic to see which links bring real visitors

Conclusion

Nofollow backlinks do not pass authority, but they still matter. They protect your site from risk, bring referral traffic, and help you look natural in search. Check your important links today, learn how to know if a link is dofollow or nofollow, and decide where nofollow fits in your plan.

Want a quick win? Audit your top pages, add nofollow where needed, and pitch two relevant sites for dofollow coverage this week. Share your experience in the comments, or start a simple link audit in Search Console right now. Steady, simple SEO habits build trust and results over time.