Last Updated on August 23, 2026 by Becky Halls
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.
Google treats rel=”nofollow” as a hint for crawling and ranking, not a directive, a change announced in 2019 and effective for crawling and indexing in March 2020. Related attributes, rel=”ugc” and rel=”sponsored”, identify user-generated or paid links and can be combined.
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. For most small and medium sites with fewer than a few thousand URLs, crawl budget is rarely a constraint. The effect is more noticeable on very large or frequently updated sites. 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.
Using nofollow to sculpt internal PageRank is unreliable, withheld equity is not redistributed as intended. Prioritize clear information architecture and strong navigation over large scale nofollow on internal links.
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.
Nofollow by itself does not stop indexing, a URL can be indexed if discovered elsewhere. Use a meta robots noindex, or an X-Robots-Tag header, and avoid blocking those pages in robots.txt so crawlers can see the directive.
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.
For links in comments or forum posts, use rel=”ugc” to label the source. If trust is low, combine it with nofollow, for example rel=”ugc nofollow”, and reserve rel=”sponsored” for paid placements.
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:
4. Using Meta Robots and X-Robots-Tag
Page-level directives can control indexing and following without changing each link. Add a meta robots tag to HTML, or set an X-Robots-Tag header for PDFs and other files.
Example:
<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex, nofollow”>
Use noindex when the goal is to keep a page out of search, and leave it crawlable so engines can read the tag.
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.
Use Google Search Console’s Crawl Stats report to confirm crawler activity and response codes. Check the Page Indexing report to track indexed, excluded, and noindexed pages tied to low priority sections.
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!
FAQs About Internal No Follow Links
What is an internal no follow link?
An internal no follow link is a hyperlink within your own website that includes the rel=”nofollow” attribute, instructing search engines not to pass SEO value to the linked page.
When should I use internal no follow links?
Use internal no follow links for low-priority pages like login screens, privacy policies, duplicate content, or user-generated sections that don’t need SEO emphasis.
Do internal no follow links affect crawl budget?
Yes, they help manage your crawl budget by guiding search engine bots away from non-essential pages and toward high-value content.
Can internal no follow links hurt SEO?
Not when used strategically. They can improve your site’s SEO by preserving link equity and optimizing crawl paths, as long as they aren’t overused.
Is using robots.txt the same as no follow?
No—robots.txt blocks crawlers entirely, while a no follow link simply tells search engines not to pass authority through that link.
