One of the biggest questions in SEO is whether nofollow links actually affect your rankings. If you were wondering whether these links are important or not, you have come to the right place. After conducting several tests and gathering insights from industry leaders, I found some surprising results that could completely change the way you think about nofollow links.
What is a nofollow link?
Before we delve into the details, let’s first clarify what a nofollow link is. A nofollow link is a hyperlink with a tag that tells Google, “Don’t give this page any SEO value.” You’ll often find that large publishers use nofollow links to give no SEO to the websites they link to -Benefits to offer.
Do nofollow links really provide value?
In the past, followed links (links without a nofollow tag) were considered more valuable for search engine optimization. They were the ones that topped ranking power while nofollow links were dismissed as useless. But here’s the kicker: Nofollow links can also pass on value – under the right conditions.
Kyle Roof’s nofollow link theory
Kyle Roof, a highly respected SEO expert, has conducted some fascinating tests on nofollow links. His findings? Kyle figured this out A nofollow link can impact your rankings if it meets two important criteria:
- The page with the nofollow link has a good ranking on Google.
- The site receives organic traffic.
These two factors can make a nofollow link seem almost like a followed link and provide significant SEO value.
The test: Can nofollow links improve Google rankings?
Inspired by Kyle’s findings, I decided to test this myself. Here’s what I did:
- I found a site Local search forum This ensures a lot of organic traffic and good ranking for several keywords.
- I posted a comment that nofollow links to a page on Sterling Sky’s website.
The results? the next dayI noticed a change in the search results for the keyword I selected. The YouTube video embedded on the page I linked appeared in search results even though the page itself had not previously ranked.
How do nofollow links compare to followed links?
So if you had to choose between a nofollow link from a high-ranking site and a followed link from a low-ranking site, which would you choose? While it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, my testing shows that nofollow links from high-ranking, high-traffic pages can have a significant impact.
This dispels the myth that nofollow links are worthless.
Google’s Algorithm Leak: More Proof That Nofollow Links Matter
Earlier this year an algorithm leak confirmed what we had already observed. Google doesn’t just ignore nofollow links. They track user behavior, clicks and engagement. When people visit and interact with a page, that page gains authority. This authority can then be passed on to the pages it links to, whether or not those links are followed.
Further testing: Replicate results
The first test was no coincidence. I did additional testing with nofollow links from other high-traffic sites and the results were consistent. I saw a positive impact on rankings and confirmed that nofollow links can actually help with SEO – if they come from the right sources.
The bottom line: Don’t reject nofollow links
If you receive nofollow links from major media sites like Forbes or major industry blogs, don’t be discouraged. Just because they don’t follow their links doesn’t mean they’re useless. If these websites rank well and generate traffic, these links are valuable to your website.
Have you tested nofollow links in your SEO strategy? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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