In the world of SEO, backlinks and internal links often take center stage. But there’s a more specific link type that can play a crucial role in your website optimization strategy – internal no follow links. While external nofollow links are commonly discussed, many website owners overlook the importance of managing nofollow links within their own site.
This guide will break down the concept of internal nofollow links, explain their significance, and show you how to use them effectively to improve your website’s performance and user experience.
What Are Internal No Follow Links?
Internal no follow links are hyperlinks within your website that include the rel=’nofollow’ attribute. This attribute tells search engine crawlers not to follow the link or pass any link equity (also known as “link juice”) to the linked page.
Unlike standard internal links, which are used to connect different pages on your site and distribute authority, internal nofollow links do not contribute to the SEO value of the linked page.
Example of an Internal No Follow Link
Here’s how an internal no follow link looks in HTML:
In this example, the link to the privacy policy is marked as nofollow, signaling to search engines that this page should not be prioritized in crawl budgets or ranking considerations.
Why Are Internal No Follow Links Important?
1. Control Crawl Budget
Search engines allocate a specific crawl budget to each website, determining how many pages they’ll crawl during a visit. Using internal nofollow links can prevent crawlers from wasting time on low-priority pages, ensuring more important pages are indexed efficiently.
2. Maintain Link Equity
By using nofollow attributes on certain internal links, you can direct your link equity toward higher-value pages, such as product pages or cornerstone content.
3. Prevent Indexing of Certain Pages
Some pages, like login screens, terms and conditions, or other non-essential content, don’t need to appear in search results. Internal nofollow links ensure these pages are not highlighted to search engines.
Internal No Follow Links vs. External No Follow Links
Internal No Follow Links
- Used within the same website.
- Control internal link equity distribution.
- Help manage crawl budgets effectively.
External No Follow Links
- Point to external websites.
- Prevent passing link equity to other domains.
- Often used for paid, sponsored, or user-generated content.
While both types of nofollow links serve the purpose of controlling link juice flow, internal no follow links are specifically about optimizing how search engines interact with your website structure.
When to Use Internal No Follow Links
Internal no follow links are not meant for every page. Here are some scenarios where they can be beneficial:
1. Non-Indexable Pages
Pages like privacy policies, terms of service, or other administrative content are often better left unindexed.
2. Duplicate Content
If you have multiple pages with similar content, use internal nofollow links to guide crawlers away from duplicate pages and toward the primary one.
3. Low-Value Pages
For pages that don’t contribute to your SEO strategy (e.g., temporary landing pages or outdated content), internal nofollow links can prevent wasted crawl budget.
4. User-Generated Content
If you have forums, comments, or other user-generated sections, using internal nofollow links can prevent irrelevant or spammy content from being crawled.
How to Add Internal No Follow Links
Adding internal no follow links is a straightforward process.
1. Manually Adding the Attribute
In your HTML, simply include rel=”nofollow” in the anchor tag.
Example:
2. Using a CMS Plugin
If you’re using WordPress or another content management system, plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help you manage nofollow attributes without manually editing code.
3. Via Robots.txt
Although not technically a nofollow link, you can prevent crawlers from accessing certain pages by adding rules in your robots.txt file.
Example:
Tips for Using Internal No Follow Links Effectively
1. Audit Your Links Regularly
Conduct regular audits of your internal links to identify where nofollow attributes might be beneficial. Tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs can help you map out your link structure.
2. Prioritize High-Value Pages
Ensure your most important pages receive maximum link equity by reducing internal nofollow links pointing to them.
3. Avoid Overuse
Overusing internal nofollow links can disrupt the natural flow of link equity within your site. Use them sparingly and strategically.
4. Combine with Canonical Tags
For duplicate content, use canonical tags alongside nofollow links to reinforce the primary page for search engines.
Common Misconceptions About Internal No Follow Links
1. They Harm SEO
Using internal nofollow links strategically will not harm your SEO. In fact, they help optimize how link equity is distributed.
2. All Internal Links Should Be Follow
Not every page on your site needs to pass link juice. Some pages are better suited to be nofollow for the sake of crawl efficiency.
3. They Stop Crawlers Entirely
Internal nofollow links discourage search engines from passing authority but do not completely prevent crawlers from accessing the page. For complete blocking, use robots.txt or meta tags.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and using internal nofollow links effectively is an essential part of modern SEO strategy. By controlling how search engines navigate your website, you can ensure that your most important pages get the attention they deserve while preventing less valuable content from draining your resources.
Ready to dive deeper into optimizing your internal links? Check out our article on Follow vs. No Follow Links: The Ultimate SEO Balancing Act to build a comprehensive link strategy that works!
